Flames devoured the ruins of Velarion, and the once golden sky was now stained with ash and grime. Aria Kallor, her heart heavy, walked amidst the wreckage, each step a reminder of the life that once existed. The destruction she had witnessed still echoed in her ears, a disturbing sound of screams and explosions. The city she knew seemed like a distant dream, and as she passed shattered buildings, the memory of her friends' and neighbors' faces merged into one thought: they were lost.
Through the confusion, Aria noticed a figure amidst the smoke. Approaching cautiously, her hopes were rekindled when she saw it wasn't a vision of death. It was a robot, but not just any robot. Axon stood there, his gleaming armor covered in soot, his blue eyes blinking, as if processing everything around him.
"What happened here?" Axon asked, his metallic voice resonating with a tone of artificial concern, but with a hint of humanism.
Aria opened her mouth to reply, but the words failed her. Everything she wanted to say seemed insignificant in the face of the destruction that surrounded them.
— Velarion… was attacked — Aria finally spoke, her voice wavering, feelings of loss forming a lump in her throat.
"We need to find survivors," Axon said, and the determination in his robotic voice made the young woman feel a spark of hope.
Continuing through the devastated city, the pair spotted a group of people gathered in the shadows of a ruined building.
"Look!" Aria called, pointing.
With an effort, she approached the crowd. There, among the survivors, a man in worn armor seemed to be leading, his imposing and serene presence emanating authority. When he turned his face, Aria could see that he was a knight, his armor decorated with insignia that told stories of bravery and glory, but now stained with the suffering of battle.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the knight spoke, his deep voice cutting through the confusion. "We need to organize a rescue! Not everyone is here. Aria, is that you?"
— Elysian! — Aria exclaimed, recognizing the knight of whom she had heard stories. He was famous in Velarion, a guardian of magic and law. He wasn't just a fighter; he was a legend.
"It's good to see one of us is still standing. But come on, we need to talk," he gestured, beckoning her to come closer.
As soon as they moved away from the group, Elysian leaned closer.
"Things are worse than we thought. I've been stripped of my powers. Those who attacked the city did so with a purpose," he replied grimly. "Someone is trying to control the Aether."
"What? How?" Aria asked, feeling her heart race.
I don't know. But I know they won't stop here. We need allies. Come on, we have to find more survivors or any information we can use.
As Aria and Elysian moved, Axon remained close by, following them with heavy steps.
"You should find Dr. Nyx," Axon suggested. "He has research skills. He might be able to discover the origin of the attack. It's our only way if we want to understand what's really going on."
"Dr. Nyx?" Aria repeated, remembering having heard about him. A scientist whose notoriety had made him a fugitive, but also an misunderstood genius.
"Yes, he's the key. He's hiding in the Velarion underground, using his inventions to try and escape capture. Let's go!" Axon led the way, his engines roaring as he moved forward.
Walking among the ruins and remains of the city, Aria felt the need to act; the new reality was closing in around her, and each new discovery seemed like an angular stone added to the weight of her responsibility. Elysian, though powerless, carried a dignity that made Aria want to become as strong as him.
The trio of allies eventually found the entrance to a dark underground tunnel. The tunnels were in ruins, but still retained fragments of the advanced technology that once made Velarion a beacon of hope.
"This must be where he's hiding," Elysian whispered, as he slowly descended the stone steps. Aria hesitated. The fear of facing the growing truth of what had happened propelled her forward.
A heavy door lay ajar ahead, and the dim light flickering from within revealed a vast room. As I crossed the threshold, a burly man with disheveled hair and large glasses turned from a table laden with tools, smoke rising faintly around him.
"What do you want? I'm working on something very important! I don't have time to waste on..." Dr. Nyx began, but stopped abruptly upon recognizing the familiar faces.
"Aria! Elysian!" he exclaimed. "I thought we'd lost you!"
"We almost did it," Aria replied, trying to hide her despair. "We need your knowledge. What do you know about the attack?"
"I... I don't know everything, but their technology is based on the Aether. They're trying to manipulate it, and if they succeed, they could create an invincible army, like a black hole feeding on everything around it. You need to understand what they're doing, Aria," he said, looking directly into her eyes.
"But I'm not a scientist!" Aria spat, the pressure of the moment making her words come out urgently.
"You're the only one who can control this energy, Aria. You possess the Aether within you," Dr. Nyx said, and the echo of his words resonated off the walls of the room.
"I can't control anything!" Aria shouted, embarrassed by her insecurity. "I'm just a pilot, just a fugitive from the city."
Elysian stepped forward.
Aria, you're worth more than this. Nobody asked for this to happen, but it's time for us to unite. We can't let them win. Come on, let's fight together!
Axon nodded in agreement, his eyes remaining steady.
— I know you can, Aria. But to do that, we need to work together. Keep us close, and we'll deal with Syroth. These enemies are many, but our destinies are intertwined.
The words of her new allies touched her on a deep level, and Aria realized she wasn't alone. A spark of determination ignited within her.
"Alright," he breathed deeply. "Let's do this! But we need a plan. If they want the Aether... we need to figure out how to stop them."
The group gathered around the table, and the conversation intensified, plans and strategies taking shape. With them, Aria felt a new purpose, a new sense of self. The weight of Velarion had affected her, but it had also made her stronger.
And so an unlikely team was born—a mercenary robot, a powerless knight, a fugitive scientist, and the lost heroine of a world in ruins. Together they were not only surviving, but fighting for a future that seemed brighter with each passing day.
The journey was only beginning, and Aria knew that the stellar horizons were within her reach. From that moment on, while the universe waited, she was ready to grow and rise as the guardian of the Aether, as the hope of what could be. For Velarion, for all.