He fell into a fitful sleep after being placed back in his cell. His wound seemed to put undue strain on his body, making him extremely exhausted. When he woke, it was with great excitement, and he quickly went into a sitting position. Crossing his legs and closing his eyes as if in meditation, he looked inward.

His name was Aaron.

When the woman named Karla asked him for a name, something in him stirred. Looking at his core, which was always so bright, he could feel something past it. Searching deeper, he appeared at a dark lake in an empty expanse. He could feel that he had entered some type of space within himself where his soul rested.

And there, in the middle of the lake, was a small flame.

Strong and steady.

It thrummed with every beat of his heart, as if they were one and the same.

It was his soul flame.

A golden ethereal mist floated within its fiery surface. As he got closer, he could see a faint Rune shimmering in its depths. The Rune was sharp and angular, as if cut into the world by the deadliest blade.

It was his name.

Aaron.

Carved into his very soul by the Spell, but the Rune was not of the Spell's making. It was the Natural Runes of the world made true by his choice. With the name came even more clarity, as if his soul had solidified and become more defined. He could always feel his soul, but he had never gone this deep to project within its space.

His Soul Space.

It was tranquil, and it was his.

He felt that he could nurture that flame until it was something greater, as if its power were limitless. He basked in his soul’s radiance for some time before pulling back and exiting his meditation. He stood and started stretching his body and working his muscles. They were stiff and unwilling, but he kept at it, being gentle on his wound. As he was working his legs, he heard a door opening and footsteps in the tunnel.

He watched as the Karla women stepped up to his cell. She wore a hood covering part of her face, and a large soldier was behind her. His face was covered, and Aeron couldn’t make out any features.

“What do you want with me?” Aaron asked, staring at Karla intently.

“We are not the murderers you may think us to be,” she said quietly.

“Tell that to Mother,” he scoffed. “Why should I work with Mother’s killers, even if it is to save my siblings? Just kill me already!”

“I told you the Spell made us aware of your Nest…” She spoke, looking into his eyes, as if pleading with him to understand. “We are in trouble and in great need of warriors. We came to your Nest in search of hope, and you were in possession of our greatest Treasure.”

“The stupid crown,” he grunted. “I felt the power of the crown, but I also felt the terror that lies within it. There is a beast that dwells in its core.”

“We already know this, but the crown can produce champions, and the world is in dire need of these champion. Many have taken the risk of claiming the crowns authority to save humanity. My father was one of them.” She answered both his words and his stare.

“How did you get the crown?” She asked, peering at him questioningly.

“I pulled it from the remains in Mother’s Treasures. The crown seemed to draw my attention as if seeking me.” Aaron replied.

“Did something happen when you touched the crown?” She inquired further, leaning in as she spoke.

“It did,” he said hesitantly. She seemed desperate for an answers so he continued, “But it failed.”

“Failed?” She exclaimed, her eyes widened slightly.

“It tried to do something, but it didn’t take hold,” Aaron explained.

“Interesting,” Karla pondered, pulling out a small set of bracers from her pack and tossing them to his feet. “Put these on.”

He picked up the bracers and looked at her skeptically. This woman was crazy if she thought he would just trust her. He didn’t really know how to handle the situation, but he wasn't that gullible. The knowledge he had already gained was enough to be a great help to his siblings, and it was hard to keep the sense of wonder out of his heart, but these were still Mother’s killers.

“And if I don’t?” Aaron growled.

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“You will,” she said briskly. “We are going on a trip, and I can’t have you make a scene.”

Karla looked at him deeply as she continued, “Do you want to see the world, Aaron?”

His eyes widened as her words echoed in the cell. He couldn’t keep the look of longing from his face. The idea of visiting the places from Mother’s memories shook him to his core, and his heart raced. The very cells in his body vibrated at the thought of being in the open air under the clear sky.

“I won’t make a scene like some animal,” he replied as he began strapping the bracers to his arms. When the final piece snapped into place, he almost yelped. He could feel the bracers putting a binding on him, trapping any power from leaking outside his core.

It was a seal.

“Good,” Karla remarked, smiling in satisfaction at his haggard look. She almost giggled, looking at his crestfallen face. Losing access to your mana all at once was jarring.

“Come, I want you to see the City.” She said, opening his cell and giving him a cloak with a set of finely woven clothes. “Don’t try anything foolish. In your weekend state, you wouldn’t last a second.”

“Let's just get this over with,” he said sullenly.

He put the clothes on the best he could and almost blushed at how naked he had been. Following her up the tunnel, he glanced at the stranger with his face covered, trailing behind them. From his size and gentle steps, Aaron could tell that the man was dangerous. As he followed her further, they came before a solid metal door, and Karla rapped in a heavy sequence.

The door opened as a guard ushered them through.

They stepped into a narrow hallway, and the guard led them through the winding corridors of the Stronghold. Aaron looked on in amazement as they walked through a regal-looking hall with portraits and paintings of random events and scenes. Humans may be killers, but they sure could create wonderful things.

As they swept past the hall, they came upon a set of huge doors standing twice as tall as everyone else in the room, and the guard began to push them open. They creaked as their wooden surface groaned under strain and opened into a darkened garden with faint light at its edges.

He followed Karla through the doors.

And into the garden under the night sky.

The Sky!

The world seemed to fall as the sky opened above him.

His breath caught in his throat, and he stumbled on shaky legs. His body trembled, and he tried to hold back the nausea and the sense of vertigo assailing him. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe steadily, tasting the fresh air and catching a cent of wildlife around him. His heart pumped fiercely, as if to burst from his chest.

He finally got his senses under control and opened his eyes to stare at the sky above him. Clouds were covering the night sky, with faint stars twinkling between them as they moved lazily. A faint breeze blew through the garden and caressed his skin, sending shivers of delight through his body.

This was the World.

The world they had been born into.

Their Home.

Tears streamed down his face in joy. Mother had done such a wonderful thing by bringing them into the world. He was so grateful for the gift she had given them and would find his siblings and make sure they found a place in this world. He would not let Mother’s gift go to waste!

Karla let him gain his composure and nudged him to follow her. They left the garden at the back entrance and started to head to the outskirts of the City. He marveled as the lamps spread their faint light on homes made of wood and stone, some even rising two stories. But as they continued, the homes began to get worse until they were overlooking a huge collection of broken hovels and tents.

Aaron’s heart skipped a beat when he looked down at the site in front of him. They had taken a wide road around the City, leading to a high hill overlooking the slums. He could smell the filth in the air and see the horrible living conditions. There were so many people! But what caused his heart to race was their decrepit look, with sagging clothes and thin bodies.

They were like Mother.

They needed nourishment, and they needed it fast.

“We are in great need,” Karla whispered softly as she bent down, peering over the slums.

“Humanity has gathered here with hopes of survival, but our supplies have been drained, and the beasts and horrors lurking throughout the land have gotten stronger. We need the power to gain ground and drive them back. We need land and resources for the people to thrive.” She looked at the slums with worry in her eyes, letting Aaron digest her words.

He was reminded of the lengths they had gone through to try to nurse Mother back to health. But he also thought of what Mother would have done for them had they been in this state. Mother would topple the world to save her children. Is that what Karla meant to show him?

They were just trying to survive, like them.

They had come in search of the crown in a last-ditch effort to help their people. Would he or Mother do anything different? But it didn’t matter! They had killed Mother for no reason! As he steamed with bitter resentment he was also reminded of his siblings.

They needed a place in this world. The humans had knowledge that could help make them stronger and could help them secure a place to call home. He hated the idea of working with Mother’s murderers but the thought of his siblings getting to experience this world helped steady his heart.

“I will work with you if you help my siblings,” Aaron said with sadness before looking up glaringly.

“But under one condition,” he continued.

“Anything within my power,” Karla reassured with a nod.

“I want Mother’s Killer.”

Karla flinched, looking at him, seeing the murder in his eyes, but she shook her head with a hint of sadness. “I can’t do that. I won’t punish someone who did what they had to do for their people’s survival.”

He huffed at the brass statement. Their survival over his kind! He couldn’t help but be frustrated over the fact that he was lucky they were even willing to help them and how the world could be so cruel. But he was steadfast in this demand.

“Then take me to my cell. We’re done here,” he stated firmly.

“So be it,” she replied with some regret in her voice.

She brought him back to the cell and removed his bracers. He sat on the cold ground, and she mumbled her final words as she exited, “The council will call for you tomorrow. Our decision for your future will be made, so try to rest.”

Aaron watched her leave the prison and sat in his cell, leaning against the stone wall. As he closed his eyes, he heard the door open back up and hurried footsteps coming to his cell. He became alert and watched as the cloaked man who was with Karla stood before him. His face was covered and still hidden from view.

The man reached up with trembling hands and pulled back the hood of his cloak.

Revealing the face that hid within its shadow.

Aaron saw a square jaw with disheveled blonde hair. He had a tear-stained face and was choking back sobs as he stared back.

Staring at him with pale green eyes...