Vas arrived home late that night, finding the whole family already gathered. The atmosphere felt tense, especially with Aleara and Beck. Their expressions were different, colder. Even his grandmother seemed off, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why. However, the reasons for Aleara and Beck's resentment were clearer—they were angry at him for not being there during the traumatic event they had just experienced. At least that feeling was something Vas was familiar with.

In the living room, Clara was resting on the couch, chatting quietly with Celine. Next to them sat a new face, a girl who seemed slightly out of place, visibly trying to make sense of the situation.

Who is she? Morrigan's voice echoed in Vas' mind.

"No idea, she's new," Vas responded, confused by this sudden addition to the family.

"You finally decided to show up," Beck said with a sarcastic tone, breaking the silence. "Where the hell were you? Didn't even bother to check on us, did you?"

Vas met his brother's glare with complete indifference. "It's not like you've ever cared where I was at any point in my life," he replied coolly.

"You didn't even send a text," Aleara chimed in, her voice laced with disappointment.

Vas raised an eyebrow, genuinely baffled by their reactions. "Same answer I gave Beck," he said dismissively.

"You know, your siblings just went through something traumatic," Clara intervened, her voice edged with frustration.

"So?" Vas said bluntly. "I've gone through traumatic shit, and no one has ever asked about it."

Clara's eyes narrowed, clearly annoyed. "Really? What have you ever gone through?"

Before Vas could respond, Gerald stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Vas has no responsibility to know what happened here, nor to ask. He's grown accustomed to nobody checking up on him, so he's learned not to check on others."

"I agree," Abigail said, her tone supportive. "You can't hold Vas accountable for things like this."

Beck, seething with anger, snapped, "You two are defending him? He doesn't care about this family!"

"No, I don't," Vas replied flatly. "I got so used to people here not caring about me that it became mutual. By the way, I don't know you," he said, turning toward the new girl. "Nice to meet you, I'm Vastian. And you are?"

"She's Octavia Hek," Abigail said, her voice faltering as she tried to explain.

"You suspected something was off about Luther, didn't you?" Gerald asked, shifting the conversation.

"Yeah, so she's the result of one of Sigdra's experiments?" Vas asked nonchalantly.

The room went silent in shock.

"You knew?" Clara asked, incredulously.

"I had my suspicions," Vas shrugged. "Sigdra was always fishy—a shady company at best, borderline terrorist organization at worst."

"What makes you say that?" Celine asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I have my sources," Vas said with a half-smile, clearly enjoying the mystery. "Not going to reveal them, though."

Celine pressed further. "So, what did you think about Luther?"

Vas leaned back slightly, arms crossed. "Way too perfect to be natural. The guy never once did anything wrong, too well-behaved, too controlled."

"True," Gerald agreed, nodding.

"That's an accurate analysis," Octavia spoke up, surprising everyone with her calm, measured tone. "So far, you seem to be the smartest one here."

"Thanks… I guess," Vas said, raising an eyebrow. "So, what are you, an organoid intelligence or something?"

Octavia's eyes flickered with surprise. "Where did you hear about that?"

"It's all over the best research papers," Vas replied, his voice casual, but his gaze sharp.

Octavia regarded Vas with a glint of intrigue, her calm demeanor masking a growing curiosity. "You seem unusually well-informed," she noted, leaning forward slightly. "Most wouldn't know about organoid intelligence unless they were embedded in certain... circles."

Vas shrugged, eyes locked onto hers. "I like to keep myself well-read. Keeps me ahead."

The tension thickened as Octavia studied him, perhaps realizing he wasn't someone easily underestimated. The rest of the family watched silently, confusion and unease mixing in their expressions.

"So, what exactly are you?" Vas asked, his voice cool but demanding.

Octavia hesitated, then replied, "I'm not just an organoid intelligence. I'm a hybrid—a synthesis of biological and artificial systems. Luther and Celine were templates, but I've... evolved beyond that."

"And what were you created for?" Vas's tone turned colder, as if searching for a crack in her composure.

"To fulfill a purpose," Octavia responded cryptically, sidestepping his question.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Celine, sitting beside her, shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting between the two. "Octavia is… family now. She's part of us, Vas."

Vas gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. "Alright," he said, the words hollow. "I'm going to my room." With that, he turned and left, his exit abrupt, leaving behind a thick air of unresolved tension.

As the door clicked shut, Beck's voice cut through the silence, thick with frustration. "Why does he get to walk out like that?"

"Because none of us have the moral right to stop him," Abigail replied sharply, her voice cold. "Not after how he's been treated his entire life."

Her gaze lingered on the closed door, her thoughts heavy with regret. After discovering that Vas had kept the truth of his Bonding hidden, Abigail had been forced to re-evaluate her grandson's actions. What she once dismissed as avoidance of his father now looked more like a calculated effort to grow stronger, to research and prepare in secret. He had faced everything alone, and the painful realization gnawed at her, a constant reminder of her past mistakes.

Meanwhile, in his room, Vas dropped onto his bed, pulling out his phone. His mind raced, but he needed to check on the one person he truly cared about. He fired off a quick text to Jacob, his brother—the only family member who hadn't treated him with indifference. Beck and, to a lesser extent, Aleara meant little to him now, but Jacob was different. He was... real family.

Jacob's reply came fast, explaining that he'd be busy with work and couldn't return home for a while. Vas smiled faintly at the message. His brother's position in Kadmon must have improved, which was good news.

That's great, bro. Congrats. Vas typed back, feeling a slight lift in his mood.

But as he tossed the phone aside, his mind shifted once more, darkening.

Training. Morrigan's voice echoed in his mind, steady but urgent. Before you even think about the next Forgotten, you need to regain the abilities you've lost. That means training—and soon.

"Alright," Vas muttered aloud. "But do we even have a plan?"

That girl, Sarah, Morrigan replied. She likely knows places to find more spirits—places I can't reach with my current power.

Vas frowned. "Can't you track them yourself?"

Yes, but Sarah has knowledge we lack. She's familiar with areas I can't scan in my current state. We'll need her insight if you want to speed up the process.

Vas sighed. Trusting Sarah wasn't something he was keen on, but if she had the information they needed, there was no choice but to play along—for now.

Without wasting time, Vas texted Sarah, asking her to meet up the next day. Her response came quickly, almost too quickly, as if she had been waiting for his message. She confirmed that she was more than willing to meet.

Vas leaned back, thinking. He'd have to prepare carefully—both for whatever Sarah had planned and for the unknown spirits they might encounter. The next step wasn't just important; it was crucial.

He had to be ready for anything.

As Vas picked up the sleek, unfamiliar device from his desk, it hummed to life in his hand, projecting a faint blue glow that filled the room. A message from his grandfather flickered across the surface.

"This is called the CipherSync," the message began. "It's hitting the market next week. This is how we're replacing phones and all the old communication devices."

Curiosity piqued, Vas swiped through the interface, his eyes narrowing as more information unraveled before him. The CipherSync wasn't just a device—it was a revolution in how people connected with the world around them.

It was built around a Core Module, a central hub that pulsed softly in his hand, the lifeblood of the entire system. Inside it, Vas knew, was the heart of the CipherSync: a powerful processor, capable of handling complex tasks, communicating across networks, and adapting to the wearer's needs. It wasn't just a gadget—it was intelligent. Modular. A foundation to which anything could be added, expanded, and redefined.

As he continued reading, the Display Module drew his attention. Unlike anything he had seen before, it wasn't restricted by a physical screen. Instead, it projected holographic visuals, a flexible, high-resolution display that could be tucked away or worn separately, flickering into existence only when he called for it. It wasn't just practical—it was discreet, an evolution of old interfaces.

He scrolled further, now intrigued by the Audio Module. It wasn't just for voice calls or music. This component picked up environmental sounds, analyzing and interpreting them, giving Vas a tactical edge in any situation. With this, every footstep, every breath, every shift in the atmosphere would become part of his awareness.

The Data Module came next, described as an external mind—a vast storage space for files, programs, and data, far more secure and accessible than traditional methods. A digital vault that moved with him, ready to deploy information at a moment's notice.

But it was the Sensor Module that truly caught his attention. Biometric scanners, environmental monitors, motion trackers—all woven into one small unit, enhancing his awareness of his surroundings. Whether scanning for threats or reading vital signs, the Sensor Module offered insight far beyond what the human eye could see.

The design itself was a testament to seamless integration. The modules could be worn in different ways: clipped to clothing, magnetized to surfaces, or even adhered to skin through bio-connectors. The CipherSync was more than just a tool—it was a part of the user, blending effortlessly with their personal style and needs.

And then there was the software. Vas scrolled through the specs, his eyebrows raising as he realized just how customizable it was. Users could reshape the interface, alter functionalities, even create entirely new modules through custom coding. The CipherSync was a blank slate, ready to be molded by whoever held it. It felt personal, alive in a way his old tech never had.

Vas stared at the shimmering display, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. This wasn't just a device—it was a statement, a reflection of the ever-evolving cyberpunk society he found himself in. It wasn't about staying connected anymore. It was about staying ahead.

Without hesitation, he began the process of transferring all his data to the CipherSync. Each module fell into place like pieces of a puzzle, syncing seamlessly to his identity. He was letting go of the past and embracing the future—one that demanded more from him, more than he had been before.

With the transfer complete, Vas set the device down, the glow fading as it powered down.

With that done, he headed for the shower, his mind already racing with thoughts of the day ahead. Once he was clean, he dressed with purpose. He slipped into a pair of military green pants and a sleeveless black top with a high turtle neck. His hair, tied messily into a bun, completed the look of someone who needed both mobility and style.

Carefully, he began placing the CipherSync modules around his body. The Core Module clipped to his pants, discreet but accessible. The Audio Module was placed near his left ear, embedded in the high collar of his top. He tucked the Display Module securely into his pants pocket, ready to be deployed when needed. Lastly, the Data Module was nestled at the base of his shirt, unobtrusive but essential.

Vas took one final look in the mirror, his reflection cool and composed. The CipherSync had already become an extension of him, blending seamlessly into his appearance. Today wasn't just about survival or training—it was about control, about staying ahead of the game.

He was ready.

Vas left his house and set off to meet Sarah. They had agreed to meet at a café in The Canopy, a district known for its dense vertical architecture and lush green rooftops. As he walked, Morrigan's voice echoed in his mind.

"You need to look for an Aetherion Spirit," Morrigan advised. "Something that connects you to the cosmos. They have the highest chance of possessing the kind of power you're after."

Vas nodded internally, considering her suggestion as he navigated the bustling streets. The idea of bonding with a cosmic spirit felt ambitious, but then again, his path as a Spirit Forger had been anything but simple.