As Lys entered her narrow but tidy home, the faint hum of the Aush streets seemed to fade away. The small space was cozy, adorned with simple tech-infused furniture and warm lights. Her mother, Guhi, sat on their worn but comfortable couch, her gaze fixed on a shimmering projection hovering mid-air. The vibrant colors of an advertisement for the Pace Plan reflected in her eyes.

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Lys (dropping her bag and collapsing onto the sofa, resting her head in her mum’s lap): "Oh, come on, Mum! Don’t even think about joining that Plan."

Guhi (gently brushing her daughter’s hair, kissing her forehead): "My sweet Aul! I just want to—"

Lys (cutting her off): "No. No. No. Absolutely not! Nope. Don’t start. I already know where this is going, and my answer is no. I want you here, with me."

Guhi (smiling softly): "Alright, alright, my stubborn Aul. I’ll stay. But you know, I just want to help. Sitting here all day feels like I’m not doing my part. I could earn some Huris, lighten your burden a little."

Lys (smirking up at her): "No way. You’re already doing the most important job—taking care of me. I’m earning enough. You, my sweet Mum, just keep being adorable and taking care of me. How’s that for a plan?"

Guhi (chuckling): "Alright, Lys, you win. But it’s hard to sit here and do nothing when I see you working so hard to keep this home running."

Lys (sitting up, her face serious): "Mum, you don’t understand how bad it is outside. The Blessed are always looking for excuses to beat down Bringers. The Light-blessed are relentless. They’ll do anything to suppress us. I can’t risk seeing you beaten up like that poor fairy today."

Guhi (concerned): "What happened today? Why do you say that?"

Lys: "On my way home, I saw a Light-bringer—a mum, just like you—getting beaten by three Blessed. She was just trying to get food for her Auls."

Guhi (her expression tightening): "Lys! How many times have I told you to stay out of things like that? We Bringers… we’ve always been treated this way. No matter what we do, the society won’t change. It’s just how the world is."

Lys (frustrated): "But why, Mum? What’s your fault if the Light chose you to be a Bringer? It wasn’t your choice, or any Bringer’s choice!"

Guhi (softly): "And it wasn’t yours either, Lys. Do you think you chose to be Blessed? No. None of us decide. It’s the Light that chooses who becomes a Bringer or a Blessed. That’s just how it is."

Lys: "But it’s not fair. And it never will be if no one speaks up!"

Guhi (sighing, her voice filled with gentle wisdom): "Lys, even if society treats us like we’re nothing, let me tell you one thing—being a Mum is the greatest feeling in the world. It’s worth everything.. No amount of pain or hardship can take that away. Remember that."

Lys’s resolve softens, and she throws her arms around her mum.

Lys (hugging tightly): "I love you, Mum. I love you more than anything in this world."

Guhi (holding her close, smiling): "And I love you, my silly Aul."

Lys (her voice muffled as she buries her face in Guhi’s shoulder): "But this doesn’t mean you’re joining the Plan. I need these hugs daily. Non-negotiable. No hugs, no functioning Lys."

Guhi (chuckling): "Fine, fine. You win. No Pace Plan. Just hugs."

She pulls back and pats Lys’s cheek.

Guhi: "Alright. Now go change. I’ll make us dinner."

Lys (grinning): *"Oh, please tell me it’s not ***Nutra-Veal Stew again. I can still taste yesterday’s sadness in my mouth."

Guhi raised an eyebrow in mock indignation.

Guhi: "I’ll have you know my Nutra-Veal Stew is practically legendary in the Juhpr. Fairies have fought wars for less."

Lys: "Wars for less taste, maybe."

Guhi swatted at her playfully, but she was laughing as she headed toward the small kitchen.

Guhi: "Go on, you ungrateful Aul. Let’s see if I save you any, then!"

----------------------------------------

The knock on the door echoed in the small, cozy home, startling both Lys and Guhi mid-dinner. It wasn’t a time when anyone usually visited. Guhi froze, gripping her glass tightly, her eyes darting to Lys. Lys, with a calm yet playful smirk, picked up her plate and sauntered toward the door.

“Don’t worry, Mum. Probably someone selling overpriced Huri cleansers again,” she joked.

When she opened the door, there stood two Sattira, the city police, clad in their pristine red-and-white uniforms. One of them, a stern-looking officer, held a glowing Prodge, a multifunctional device collecting data.

Sattira 1: “This flat belongs to Lys Afynado?”

Lys (leaning lazily on the doorframe, taking a bite from her plate): “That’s Afynado, Sattira. Please, pronounce it with some respect.”

The officer raised an eyebrow.

Sattira 1: “Hmm... A blessed one, are we?”

Lys: “Obviously. You think this charm belongs to a bringer?” (She smirks, taking another bite.) “What’s the honour today? Busting another poor Bringer for existing?”

The second officer, Sattira 2, nudged his colleague as if to remind him to stay on task.

Sattira 1: “Watch your tone, Velis. If you weren’t a blessed one, you’d be picking yourself off the floor by now.”

Lys (mock gasping): “Oh no! Whatever would I do? You’ve truly struck terror into my heart. Would a bite of my Phulk calm your nerves?”

The first Sattira rolled his eyes but leaned forward.

Sattira 2: “We’re surveying for Light-bringers for the Pace Plan. If you don’t mind, we’d like to see your mum. She must be one, no?”

Lys widened her eyes theatrically and placed a hand over her heart, fake-sobbing.

Lys: “Oh, Sattira! My mum... my poor mum! How I miss her every day... alone in this cruel, cruel world...”

The second officer snickered under his breath, but the first one wasn’t buying it.

Sattira 1: “Yeah, yeah, save the drama for someone who cares. Step aside. I’m checking the place.”

Lys (mock indignant): “Excuse me! This is my house, not some Sattira playground!”

Ignoring her, the officer pushed past her and marched inside. Lys trailed behind, still munching her dinner, muttering loud enough for them to hear.

Lys: “Sure, make yourself at home. Want some dessert too? Oh wait, I forgot—you Sattira feed on misery.”

Sattira 1 ignored her and scanned the flat. His gaze landed on the dinner table, where two glasses sat neatly next to a cleared plate.

Sattira 1: “If you live alone, why are there two glasses here?”

For the briefest moment, Lys hesitated. Then she slapped her forehead dramatically.

Lys: “Ah, caught me! I confess... I’m a double-fisted drinker! One for the Phulk, one for the gulsh. Keeps me hydrated while I dine in style. You wouldn’t get it. Blessed tradition and all.”

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The officer narrowed his eyes, unconvinced.

Sattira 1: “You’re hiding her, aren’t you?”

Lys (throwing her hands up): “Yes! She’s right here! In my heart! Want to crack it open and find her? Be my guest!”

The second Sattira chuckled but nudged his colleague.

Sattira 2: “We’ve checked enough. There’s no one here. Let’s go.”

Sattira 1 gave Lys a hard, lingering glare before stepping back.

Sattira 1: “Don’t think you’ve fooled me, Velis.”

Lys: “Oh, but I didn’t. You fooled yourself by coming here.”

With a sharp turn, they left. Lys waited until their footsteps faded, then peeked into the hallway to confirm they were gone. Closing the door, she let out a long exhale.

Lys: “Mum! Coast’s clear. You can come out now.”

Guhi emerged from the small storage space, her face pale and eyes wet with tears.

Guhi: “I can’t keep doing this, Lys! I can’t bear to see you risking yourself like this!”

Lys smiled softly, wiping away her mum’s tears.

Lys: “Mum, I’d do this a thousand times if it meant keeping you safe. You’re worth every second of it.”

Guhi hugged her tightly, sniffling.

Guhi: “But... what if one day they...”

Lys (pulling back, grinning): “...throw a tantrum? Poke around and find nothing? Leave embarrassed? Oh no, Mum, I could never handle that kind of humiliation for them.”

Guhi chuckled through her tears, smacking Lys lightly on the arm.

Guhi: “You and that sharp tongue of yours.”

Lys: “It’s my weapon of choice, Mum. Keeps those red-and-white tyrants on their toes.”

They both laughed as Guhi kissed Lys’s forehead.

Guhi: “My brave, silly Aul.”

Lys: “And don’t forget your favourite Aul who still demands dessert. Let’s finish dinner before I faint from this heroic effort!”

They returned to the table, the tension melting into warmth as they shared a quiet moment together, safe—for now.

----------------------------------------

The Ranit hummed as it levitated over the shimmering roads of Veliara, its sleek body gliding past the towering crystalline spires of Aush. Lys leaned against the cool, tinted window, her gaze idly following a marching group of fairies far below. Their chants reverberated faintly even through the hum of the transport, fists raised in anger as they stormed toward the Nyxdor's fort.

Lys: (sighing, shaking her head) "Every day, it's the same. Why don’t they just... I don’t know, work? Earn their Huris instead of shouting at the gates all day."

Xaya, sitting beside her, furrowed her brows and turned to her friend, her tone tinged with frustration.

Xaya: "Work where, Lys? My Nahi's been searching for weeks, and she’s blessed. It’s not like there are endless jobs out there—especially now, with the Savior handing out handouts to every fairy crawling into our realm."

Lys straightened, bristling at the comment.

Lys: "And what’s wrong with that? He’s saving lives! Isn't that worth something? At least he’s trying to fix what’s left of this mess."

Xaya: (snorting) "Fix? He’s turning realms into a trash heap, overcrowded with fairies from dead realms. What about our jobs, our homes? Do you think these mobs marching through the streets are for fun? Five realms are gone, Lys. Destroyed. And yet you still believe he can save us?"

Lys: (firmly) "I do. Sure, he couldn’t save the realms, but he saved countless fairies—"

Xaya: (interrupting) "And dumped them here in Veliara. Now Nyxdor has to deal with an overcrowded realm and riots on every street corner. Face it, Lys. He’s just prolonging the inevitable."

Before Lys could retort, the Ranit jolted violently. A deep, metallic groan echoed through the transport. Fairies cried out, gripping seats and rails for balance.

Lys: (gripping the window frame, her voice faltering) "What was that?"

The lights inside flickered ominously. Then came a thunderous explosion from the rear compartment. The force of it sent fairies tumbling, and the entire vehicle tilted dangerously.

Screams erupted as panic took over. Lys grabbed Xaya’s arm, pulling her toward the exit as chaos engulfed them.

Lys: "We need to get off—now!"

But before they could move more than a few steps, the Ranit shuddered and plummeted from its levitation field, slamming into the ground below. The vehicle skidded wildly, demolishing everything in its path before finally crashing through a building and coming to a brutal stop.

Silence followed, punctuated only by the crackle of fires and groans of the wounded.

Lys gasped, coughing as dust filled her lungs. Pain shot through her side, but she forced herself to move.

Lys: (weakly) "Xaya? Xaya, are you okay?"

Her eyes darted frantically, landing on Xaya lying limp beside her. Blood pooled beneath her friend’s still body.

Lys: (shaking her shoulder) "Xaya? No... no, please. Wake up!"

But Xaya was gone. Lys’s vision blurred with tears, her chest heaving with a mix of fear and despair. She clutched her side and crawled out of the wreckage, her legs trembling as she emerged into the devastation.

What she saw stopped her heart.

Above the burning city, Zovrath’s Ark loomed—a monstrous, jagged vessel that seemed to pierce the sky itself. Its dark metallic body pulsed with malevolent energy, casting an eerie red glow over the ruins of Aush. Smoke billowed from shattered buildings, and cries of terror echoed everywhere.

The destruction was overwhelming—entire sections of the city lay in ruins, and terrified fairies fled in every direction. The sky, once bright and full of life, was now choked with smoke and despair. Lys’s heart pounded in her chest as her thoughts raced to one word:

Lys: (whispering) "Mum..."

Her legs felt like lead, her body weak from the crash, but she forced herself to move, staggering toward the burning remains of the city.

Lys: (desperately) "Mum! I’m coming—please, please be alive!"

She stumbled over debris, her breaths shallow and ragged. Her injuries slowed her, and she knew she wouldn’t make it in time. Panic surged through her, and she clenched her fists, feeling the cold metal of the Celsor embedded in her palm—a cruel device suppressing her powers.

Her gaze fell on a jagged shard of glass glinting in the rubble. Without hesitation, she grabbed it, gritting her teeth as she sliced into her palm. Blood dripped onto the ground, and the Celsor clattered to the dirt.

Lys: (breathless, a fiery determination in her eyes) "Time to be a Blessed One."

The moment the Celsor left her body, a surge of energy coursed through her. Lightning crackled around her as her Speedster abilities awakened. Her wounds closed instantly, and arcs of electricity danced along her limbs. Her hair lifted slightly, charged by the energy now flooding her veins.

In a flash of light and a crack of thunder, Lys vanished, leaving a trail of sparks behind her as she zipped through the burning streets, dodging falling debris and panicked crowds. Her mind raced with a singular purpose:

Lys: (gritting her teeth) "Hold on, Mum. I’m coming."

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Lys zipped into Juhpr, her home locality, the place she had always felt safe. But what met her eyes now was devastation beyond belief. The towering apartment complex she’d lived in—the sanctuary where her mother waited for her—was now a heap of shattered stone and mangled steel, smoke rising from the ruins like the breath of a dying beast.

Her heart stopped as she stumbled to a halt, sparks flickering weakly around her as her powers faltered under the weight of her emotions. Fairies were everywhere, their faces etched with terror as they ran, clutching wounded loved ones or calling out desperately for missing family members.

Lys stood frozen, the chaos around her a blur, her body trembling as the world collapsed around her.

Lys: (whispering, her voice barely audible) "Mum..."

Her feet moved of their own accord, dragging her forward toward the rubble. Her hands reached out, trembling, as though she could will her mother to emerge from the wreckage unharmed.

Lys: (calling out, her voice rising to a wail) "Mum! Mum! Where are you?"

She fell to her knees before the debris, her hands tearing at the jagged remains of what was once her home. Stones, broken glass, and splintered beams scraped her skin, but she didn’t stop. Her tears mixed with the soot and dirt on her face as she threw aside chunk after chunk of debris, her sobs growing louder with every passing second.

Lys: (pleading, her voice breaking) "Mum... no... Mum, please be alive! I can’t lose you. Not you... please..."

She gritted her teeth and grabbed hold of a massive boulder blocking her path. Lightning flickered faintly around her arms as she strained with every ounce of strength she had. Her grief-fueled desperation gave her power, but the weight was too much.

Lys: (screaming in frustration) "No! No! Mum! I can’t live without you!"

Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the rubble, her fists pounding weakly against the unyielding stone. Her cries filled the air, but the world seemed indifferent to her pain.

Suddenly, an explosion erupted not far behind her, the force of it sending a wave of heat and smoke over the area. Rubble shifted, and screams echoed as more buildings crumbled under the assault. But to Lys, the sound was a distant murmur, drowned out by the anguish that consumed her.

A shadow loomed over her, and a pair of strong hands grabbed her shoulders.

Voice: "Hey! Get up! You’ll die here if you stay! Get up!"

The fairy shook her roughly, but Lys barely reacted. Her glassy eyes remained fixed on the rubble, her lips moving soundlessly as though calling out to her mother.

Lys: (weakly, as though in a trance) "Mum... please... don’t go..."

The fairy shook her harder, desperation in her voice.

Fairy: "I’m sorry for your mum, but we have to run now! They’re coming this way. Do you hear me? Zovrath’s army is coming! Get up, or we’re both dead!"

The words broke through the haze, but only slightly. Lys shook her head, trying to pull away.

Lys: (sobbing, struggling against the fairy) "No... no! My mum’s still here! I can’t leave her! Mum! MUM!"

Another explosion rocked the area, closer this time. The ground trembled violently, sending more debris tumbling down. The fairy cursed under her breath and tightened her grip, dragging Lys back despite her protests.

Fairy: "I’m sorry, but there’s no time! You’ll die if you stay here! Come on!"

Lys: (screaming, tears streaming down her face) "Leave me! Let me go! MUM!"

The fairy didn’t let go, dragging Lys further from the wreckage as smoke and flames engulfed the remains of the building. Lys clawed at the ground, kicking and screaming, but her strength was no match for the fairy’s determination.

Lys: (shrieking, her voice raw with pain) "MUM!!!"

Her cries echoed through the chaos, a sound so raw and filled with grief that it seemed to pierce the very heavens. But no answer came from the rubble.

Behind them, dark shapes emerged from the smoke—the twisted, monstrous forms of Zovrath’s soldiers. Their eyes glowed with crimson malice as they advanced, tearing through anyone in their path.

The fairy tightened her grip and ran, dragging Lys with her as the ground trembled beneath their feet.

Fairy: "We’re not safe yet! Move!"

But Lys’s mind was elsewhere, her heart shattered as she was pulled away from the last place she had seen her mother. The ruins of Juhpr faded into the distance, but her whispered pleas lingered in the air.

Lys: (softly, brokenly) "Mum... I’m sorry... I’m so sorry..."