Aethelos: The Bastard of Light

Brock Rocket handed the folded map to the group with the same tired expression as always. · “North training forest. Mid-level Luzlon and Schulon. Eliminate or incapacitate the required number and return before nightfall. This is not a light simulation. Treat it as real.” · The three of them left in silence. · The training forest of Solaris was more controlled than the one in Noxi, but still dense and dark. It didn’t take long for the first Schulon to appear between the trees, followed by two Luzlon. The fight was quick and coordinated out of necessity. Yana slowed them with roots, Lygar cut with precise shadow, and Eli covered the angles with sharp blades of Light. Even with the tension between them, their bodies already knew how to work together. · When the last Luzlon fell, the group was catching their breath. · That was when they heard human footsteps. · Several figures emerged from the vegetation — dark clothes, improvised weapons, and unstable auras. They weren’t creatures. They were people. · Eli was the first to react. · “More training enemies. Let’s go!” · Lygar was already advancing. Yana prepared her plants. The three of them attacked as if it were still part of the mission. · The mistake lasted only a few seconds. · One of the men deflected Lygar’s strike with a real technique and answered with a dark energy projectile that tore through the tree beside them. Another shouted orders. There was none of the sluggishness or predictability of the academy’s creatures. · “Wait!” Yana shouted. “These aren’t training dummies!” · The realization came too late. The group of terrorists had already taken position. The tone of the fight changed. Now it was survival. Eli blocked an attack that was headed toward Brock (who stayed behind, apparently vulnerable). Lygar and Yana covered the flanks. It was short, intense, and dirty. In the end, the terrorists retreated deeper into the forest, leaving two of their wounded behind. · The silence that followed was heavy. · The three of them stood still among the trees, breathing still uneven. Brock watched from a distance without intervening. · It was Yana who broke the silence, looking at Lygar. · “Do you… really feel that revolted against Solaris?” · Lygar didn’t answer immediately. He ran a hand through his hair, residual Shadow still on his fingers. · “It’s not just Solaris,” he muttered. “It’s everything. The way they look. The way they talk. Like our blood is automatically guilt.” · Eli swallowed hard. His chest felt tight. He looked at both of them and, for the first time since the argument in the market, spoke without defensiveness. · “I’m sorry.” · Both turned toward him. · “I… shouldn’t have accused you the way I did. It must not be easy to feel different all the time. I was wrong.” · Lygar looked him straight in the eyes, expression serious. · “Eli. Why do you assume you’re a Vindicari when you have Aquila human blood?” · Yana added, her voice calm but firm: · “Yes, Eli. You know that even to the Vindicari you’re just another one.” · Eli fell silent. The words hit deep. He looked at his own hands, where the Light still trembled weakly, and then at the ground. · After long seconds, he answered: · “I simply wanted to be like my father. He was an example. I feel that not being like him… means being on the wrong side.” · He raised his eyes to both of them. · “I’m sorry for accusing you of being part of the terrorist movement. It was fear. And prejudice. I know.” · No one answered right away. · Lygar looked away. Yana held his gaze for one more second and then gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. · It wasn’t complete forgiveness. · But it was the first real step. · Brock, still at a distance, watched everything in silence. A small, tired smile appeared at the corner of his mouth before it faded. · “Mission complete,” he said simply. “Let’s head back.” · The three of them started walking. No longer side by side… but also no longer so far apart.