Vhaezora - 1.75 Years Later
Vhaezora measured forty-eight Earth hours in a single day. One year on the planet lasted approximately eight hundred and thirty-two Earth days. Therefore, one year and nine months on Vhaezora was equal to roughly four Earth years.
During that time, the survivors of Orynx completed the construction of their new empire.
The Ruler was pleased with what they had accomplished. They had spent one full year of their stored energy building the civilization, raising its structures, forming its territories, and establishing a new order. The remaining three-quarters of the year had been spent trying to survive.
But the energy they had preserved was not unlimited.
Spiritual beings began fading away. Their forms grew weaker as the energy sustaining their cores continued to drain. Some collapsed in the streets, while others could no longer maintain their physical manifestations. The survivors eventually gathered before the Ruler and begged him to bring Nova back—or find another Spiritual Origin who could restore the energy they were losing.
The Ruler did not appear concerned.
He remained seated on his throne while his right-hand assistant sat beside him. The assistant had also survived the destruction of Orynx. The Ruler was a descendant of the ancient Rulers of Orynx, and his lineage possessed an unusually efficient energy system capable of sustaining itself for millions of years on Orynx.
The difference in time between the worlds had made the situation difficult to understand. A single second on Orynx was approximately thirty-one point five three five seconds on Earth, while a second on Vhaezora was roughly sixty-two seconds.
Because of that difference, the one and three-quarter years the survivors had spent on Vhaezora represented approximately 3.99 million years by the time scale connected to Orynx. Fortunately, the change in time did not appear to damage their bodies or cores directly. It reduced the rate at which they consumed energy, allowing them to survive much longer than they would have on Orynx.
However, their energy had still been draining ever since they completed the empire.
Construction had required too much of it.
Now the spiritual beings were beginning to disappear.
[Elara's Domain]
During the years that followed, Elara became considerably stronger.
Eris had trained her relentlessly, teaching her how to control the Crimson Blade until Elara achieved complete mastery over it. The blade also helped preserve Elara's energy, allowing her to maintain her strength for much longer than the other survivors.
Eris herself had been born from the essence of concentrated dark Demonic Energy. Because she had not contributed her energy to the construction of the new empire, she still possessed a considerable reserve.
Elara had built her own domain and restricted Ryvex from entering it. Rin was the only one permitted to remain with her, so she stayed beside Elara as the two of them lived together within the domain.
[Elara's Domain - Master Room, Upper Floor]
Eris stood near the window, looking out over the streets below. The spiritual beings moving through the city appeared weaker than they had been before.
She released a quiet sigh.
"It looks like the spiritual beings are going to become extinct."
Elara rested on the bed with Rin beside her. She looked toward Eris, her expression troubled.
"If Nova came back, everyone would be saved, wouldn't they?"
Eris turned away from the window.
"Yes. I believe she could save everyone."
She hesitated, then gave Elara a tired smile.
"But if she sees me, she'll kill me. I don't think she's forgotten what I did."
Elara thought about that for a moment.
"You're probably right."
Then she looked away.
"Still, we'll deal with that if the day ever comes."
Neither of them expected that day to arrive so soon.
[The Streets of Vhaezora]
Xyne walked through the city with her family. Xyke and Skye moved beside her as they made their way toward Ryvex's location.
Skye looked at Xyne.
"Sis?"
Xyne turned her head.
"What is it?"
Skye lowered her voice.
"I don't know how to explain it, but I don't think we can survive without an Origin."
Xyne's expression became serious.
"You're right. We probably can't."
She looked across the city at the weakened spiritual beings.
"All we can do is hope Nova comes back to us."
Before Skye could answer, the atmosphere changed.
A pressure descended across Vhaezora.
It was so intense that the survivors were forced downward. Their bodies and energy systems strained beneath it, and many beings fell to their knees. Across the empire, everyone looked toward the sky.
Eris felt the pressure from inside Elara's domain.
Elara also lifted her head.
Then she smiled.
"She came."
A blue light appeared above the planet.
It grew brighter as it descended, and the spiritual beings of Vhaezora stared upward in disbelief. Some of them recognized the energy immediately. Others simply felt the overwhelming presence approaching them.
From somewhere in the city, Xyne looked toward the sky.
"Finally," she whispered. "Nova is back."
The survivors bowed.
Even Elara and Eris lowered themselves before Nova's arrival.
Everyone bowed except the Ruler and his right-hand assistant.
Nova floated above the city, looking down at the beings gathered beneath her. Her blue Spiritual Energy moved around her like a living atmosphere.
Then she spoke.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice echoed across the entire planet.
The survivors raised their heads in shock.
"She said she was sorry."
"Did Nova just apologize?"
Nova looked at them again.
"I'm sorry for destroying our universe," she said. "When I become stronger, I promise I will create another one."
The crowd stared at one another.
They had expected power. They had expected judgment. They had not expected an apology.
Nova lifted one hand.
A tiny point of blue Spiritual Energy appeared above her palm. It was small enough to fit between her fingers, but the pressure radiating from it made the air tremble.
Eris stared at it.
"Damn. That light…"
Elara watched the sphere carefully.
"Stay calm. She won't destroy everything again."
Nova released the small light.
It rose into the sky and expanded.
The light did not erupt violently. It opened softly, spreading through the atmosphere like a gentle blue dawn. Then Spiritual Energy began falling across Vhaezora in countless glowing particles.
The survivors cried out in surprise.
Some leapt into the air before the energy could reach the ground. Others remained where they were and drew it into their cores as it descended around them.
The spiritual beings absorbed the energy and felt their weakening forms begin to stabilize. Their cores stopped draining so quickly. Their bodies regained their structure, and the fading presence around them became stronger.
The demons and beasts also raised their voices in gratitude.
"Thank you, Nova!"
"You saved us!"
Nova smiled faintly as she watched them recover.
Then her expression changed.
She began looking across the city as though searching for someone.
Her gaze moved from one domain to another, but she did not find the person she expected.
Where is Astra? Nova thought. Seriously… where did she go?
Nova moved through the sky while the survivors continued thanking her. She passed over the city, following the traces of energy around the domains.
Then she stopped beside Elara's domain.
She floated outside a transparent window on the upper floor and looked inside.
"I know you're in there," she called. "Come out. Let me see you."
Eris slowly stepped into view.
Nova's expression changed when she saw her.
"So you're still alive."
Nova extended one hand toward Eris.
Blue light began gathering in her palm.
Eris did not move.
Elara immediately entered the room and unsheathed the Crimson Blade. Red flames surged across her body as she placed herself between Nova and Eris.
Nova looked at her.
Elara tightened her grip on the blade.
"Calm down, Nova," she said. "Don't you want to know who was responsible for the assassination?"
Nova's hand remained raised for another moment.
Then the blue light began to fade.
She slowly lowered her arm.
To be continued…