Stolen Fate

Slipping out into the open air was good for thinking. Jace breathed out the long deep breath he had been holding as he took a look at the grand city in front of him.

As Jace took in the view, he heard a soft voice behind him "Finally noticing what you're leaving behind?"

Jace sighed as he turned to Edgis, the elderly man. "If you mean my reasonably strict father and my cousin's charismatic personality, then you're absolutely correct. Here's a million dollars for winning the lottery"

Edgis chuckled at Jace's dry tone as they both turned and took in the view. The light from the artificial sun slowly dimmed as lights from around the city slowly grew brighter.

The air was crisp and cold, but would slowly turn colder as the artificial sun dimmed.

"You're leaving at dawn?" It seemed more like a statement than a question; Nevertheless, Jace nodded.

Edgis smiled as he whispered "Follow me, I want to show you something"

Jace walked side by side with Edgis as they ventured through the city. With the banquet still in full swing, not a lot of people were on the streets but the steady buzz of machinery filled the air.

"So?" Edgis broke the silence "Test time. The history of the war. Tell me about it while using appropriate dates and quotes from famous historical figures"

Jace raised an eyebrow at him as he muttered "I'm not 12".

With a stiff glare from Edgis he changed his mind.

Clearing his throat he spoke "The exact date and time are unknown. All that's known was that no one bothered to check their watch or write it down on their calendars"

Edgis glared at Jace once more. Jace, meanwhile, continued his story even as Edgis's gaze turned sharp "Aliens invaded, humanity rose up, blah blah blah, and we're here today I guess".

Jace didn't need to look beside him to feel the glare as he corrected himself "The exact day is uncertain but a team made up of veterans all over the world came together"

Edgis nodded as he tapped the cane on the ground "And, what happened?"

Jace's gaze turned distant as he looked up at the dome "Only one person returned with shiny magic crystals which gvce powers and that was how humanity was able to fight back".

Edgis nodded after which he noticed Jace's reservations "What do you think?"

Jace shook his head as he spoke "It's too obvious. A bunch of people infiltrate an ancient civilizations ship, two survive and they bring back a bag of shiny crystals they just managed to guess would be the key to defeat the aliens. It feels like the plot of a bad soap opera"

Edgis nodded gently "History sometimes feels like that. The thing is we don't know anything. We weren't there and so cannot make a lot of assumptions".

Jace opened his mouth to speak as Edgis declared "We're here".

Jace looked ahead at the aging building. He had once heard rumors that the building was created by his grandfather and Edgis alone. The first time Jace had seen it, he had understood perfectly what they meant.

The building looked clumsily constructed, its walls deathly pale with splurges of pink and purple. Jace ignored the fact that the building was leaning as he and Edgis walked in.

The door creaked loudly as Edgis swung it open to reveal a young man sitting on the counter.

His head was stuck inside a physical book and as Edgis and Jace walked in, he called out "So, did you have to bail the troublemaker again or did he finally mature?"

Jace smiled as he clapped back "Maybe ask the troublemaker himself"

The young man raised his head up as he adjusted his glasses and stood up. With a large grin on his face he hugged Jace. "Good to see you little bro"

Jace scoffed but didn't reject his title nor the embrace. "Nice to see you too, Eric" Eric squeezed tighter almost about to choke Jace until he managed to spit out "Big bro"

Finally after releasing the hug, Jace took a moment to breathe while watching Eric.

He was the only person in the entirety of the Black Stars who had gone to the military camp and unlike those who were in the faction simply because they were born there, Eric had been hired as a battle analyst.

Eric's abilities involved being able to visualize battles and calculate the odds in various situations. The military had initially expressed interest in his ability but had slowly rescinded their offer when it was revealed that Eric's abilities were low-ranked and so could not perform those calculations on account of various factors.

Jace's father, meanwhile, had taken Eric and was using him as a tactician to plan various attacks against Rache. It was a sense of one man's trash becoming another man's treasure and Eric had been a humongous treasure, helping the Black Stars avoid defeats.

"You weren't at the banquet?" Jace asked as Eric snorted

"Oh please. Spare me. Why on Apnea's moons would I go to an event where I have to kiss a bunch of people as.."

Edgis watched the pair's reunion before clearing his throat. Jace turned to him just as Edgis spoke "It pains my heart to ruin such a joyous reunion"

As he spoke he glanced at Eric who instantly took the hint and slipped out the library.

Jace frowned as he noticed the glance and asked "So, what great thing did you want to show me that couldn't wait"

Edgis nodded as he leaned on his staff "Do you still remember the Stone of Death"

Jace scoffed "If you mean the fairy tales, then yeah I remember it".

The Stone of Death had been an epic tale, one of hope.

That was back then, when Jace still believed in mystical magic and poisonous potions, when Jace still believed in chosen ones and destined fate, when Jace still believed that a powerless boy could still gain an ability.

Back then when he hadn't yet grown to see the world as it was.

Edgis seemed to notice Jace's thoughts as he affirmed "It's real and that's what I want to show you"

Motioning for Jace to follow him he walked towards a certain wall. As he did he spoke "So, What do you know about the stone of death?"

Jace frowned "Not much. It's powerful, contains immeasurable power and kills everyone who touches it. Anything else?"

Edgis placed his hand on the wall as the sound of gears turning slowly rose "Just one little thing"

The wall slowly moved as a passageway slowly became clearer. "The Stone of Death, is a fake"

Jace frowned as he watched Edgis walk into the darkness. Jace followed, smelling the stench of rotten wood and stale air.

Before him was nothing but thick suffocating darkness and Jace could hear the wall slowly shutting him in.