Arthur Hek was engrossed in his latest research. As a permanent researcher at the prestigious University of Nova—named after the god Nova, the embodiment of innovation—he had access to some of the brightest young minds in the galaxy. The university was renowned for its rigorous standards, receiving millions of applications each year but accepting only around 1% of them. For those lucky enough to gain admission, it was a mark of great prestige.

Arthur had completed his own studies at this very institution, where he quickly stood out. After earning his degrees, he was offered a research position and went on to conduct several groundbreaking studies. This success culminated in him becoming one of the youngest individuals to earn a PhD from the university. Now, as the head of his own research team, he attracted many eager students who sought to study under him. By all accounts, Arthur was one of the best in his field, though the specifics of his specialty were shrouded in mystery. Officially, he was an archaeologist—but not of the traditional sort. His focus was on ancient ruins that the government had classified as having connections to the Anima. Among his current projects were the ruins recently uncovered by Kadmon, which had finally been deemed safe for exploration.

However, Arthur's primary obsession for the past few years had been a single, perplexing mystery: a strange phenomenon that had occurred several years ago. He had made some progress, uncovering cryptic references to "the Forgotten" and "The Archivist." His ultimate goal was to gain access to the Void, the elusive realm where The Archivist was rumored to reside. Despite his relentless efforts, he had yet to make any significant breakthroughs. But Arthur was nothing if not tenacious.

Adding to his current stress was the impending visit of his father, Gerald Hek. Gerald was the man Arthur had spent his entire life trying to impress, a task that had proven to be exceedingly difficult. Arthur had hoped that his own achievements would win his father's approval. While his first son, Jacob, had succeeded in impressing Gerald, Arthur's other children, Aleara and Vastian, had mixed results. Aleara was brilliant, but Vastian had been a disappointment, at least in Gerald's eyes. Vastian had given up on The Unveiling too easily and refused to attempt it again after a second failure. It frustrated Arthur even more that Vastian always had a sharp response for everything he said.

In a last-ditch effort to earn his father's favor, Arthur had even adopted a young boy named Beck, hoping to groom him into someone who could restore the family's honor. However, Beck's tendency to get into trouble had only drawn more of Gerald's ire, proving to be another dead end. Arthur was now pinning all his hopes on his research. If he could become the first person to access the Void and communicate with The Archivist, perhaps he would finally gain the recognition he had always craved. He secretly hoped that this was the reason for Gerald's unexpected visit—that his father had heard of his groundbreaking work and wanted to encourage him.

But Gerald Hek was not a man who traveled without a purpose. His sudden arrival at the university was both a surprise and a cause for concern.

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The University of Nova itself was a marvel of engineering—a sprawling space station designed for academic excellence. It consisted of a central cylinder surrounded by five concentric rings, each dedicated to a different purpose. The main cylinder housed the lecture halls and classrooms. The first ring was reserved for faculty residences, while the second ring accommodated student dormitories. The third ring featured simulated biomes where students could study various ecosystems and wildlife. The fourth ring was a hub for medical research and testing. Finally, the fifth ring—Arthur's domain—was where the most classified research took place. Access to this ring was so restricted that even professors who had dedicated their entire careers to the university had never set foot there.

Gerald and Arthur met in his office, a space that felt more like a research lab than a traditional office. Instead of walls, the room was lined with shelves, each stacked with discs containing crucial information. Holographic symbols floated in the air, some likely part of Arthur's ongoing research. The room was well-lit, yet it carried a certain somber tone, a stark contrast to the gleaming tech around them. Gerald took a seat at the large desk, which appeared to hover, held in place by some form of gravitational technology. He didn't mind the futuristic tech—he had seen it all before—and settled into the chair, waiting.

He was dressed formally in a tailored suit, with a long black cloak draped over his shoulders. The sharpness of his attire contrasted with the more casual nature of Arthur's outfit when he finally entered the room. Arthur was clad in a black one-piece bodysuit, with a white professor's coat over it. His white hair was meticulously styled, but there were dark circles under his eyes, betraying his exhaustion.

"Hello, son," Gerald said, his tone neutral but laced with an undercurrent of tension. "How've you been?"

"I've been good, Father," Arthur replied, his voice steady, though a hint of unease flickered in his eyes. "Everything is fine. It's not normal for you to show up like this, though."

Gerald's face hardened. He shifted in his chair, adopting a more serious posture. "I'm going to be blunt with you, son." His voice became colder. "Do you have anything to do with the Light Cavalry?"

Arthur's face didn't flicker, but his pulse quickened. "No," he said quickly. "No idea what that is."

Gerald studied him for a moment, eyes sharp. "Then, do you know anything about some tablets that are used with the energy of The Forgotten?"

Arthur hesitated. "Mmmm," he murmured, frowning slightly. "What do you mean?"

Gerald's eyes narrowed. "You know exactly what I mean, Arthur," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Tell me."

Arthur hesitated again, his gaze flicking to the floor. Gerald's steely expression remained unchanged. Arthur swallowed before speaking. "They're just... the latest research tools we're developing. The idea is to release the energy and track where it goes after it banishes."

Gerald's gaze turned even sharper. "Son, don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying, Dad," Arthur said, panic creeping into his voice, his hands trembling ever so slightly.

Gerald's voice dropped, becoming colder still. "Arthur," he said, his tone a warning. "I usually let you run your own research, let you have your space. But after what happened with Celine, I couldn't just sit back anymore. These tablets are a problem, and I know you're involved. What I need to know is how much of the problem is because of you."

Arthur's heart was racing now. "Dad, I swear to you, I don't know what you're talking about!" The panic in his voice was palpable, his hands now visibly shaking.

Gerald's eyes never wavered. "No more lies, Arthur," he said, his voice hard. "Tell me the truth."

"I am telling you the truth!" Arthur's voice cracked with frustration and anger, but it only seemed to deepen the tension in the room.

Gerald leaned forward slightly, his gaze unblinking. For a long moment, he just looked at his son, the silence stretching out like a thick fog between them. Finally, Gerald spoke, his words colder than before.

"This… is disappointing."