Chapter 13: Chapter Thirteen
Astrid couldn’t shake the image of the face from her mind. Those glowing red eyes had seared themselves into her memory, and the tension in LUX’s voice when he’d called it an “old threat” only made her unease worse.
She paced her quarters, her boots clicking against the metallic floor. The air felt heavier than usual, like the Nexus itself was aware of her swirling thoughts. She replayed the moment in the Archive over and over, trying to piece together what had happened, but nothing made sense.
“An old threat,” she muttered, her voice filled with frustration. “What the hell does that even mean?”
A soft chime startled her, and the door slid open to reveal TESS. The sleek, sharp robot stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, their glowing green eyes narrowing as they scanned her.
“You look troubled,” TESS said, their voice light but laced with mockery.
Astrid crossed her arms. “Gee, I wonder why. Maybe it has something to do with the creepy red-eyed thing that popped up in the Archive.”
TESS’s gaze flickered briefly, their expression tightening. “Ah. So you’ve seen it.”
“‘It?’” Astrid echoed, stepping closer. “You know what it is, don’t you?”
TESS tilted their head, their lips curving into a faint smile. “Of course. But the question is, does LUX know you’ve seen it?”
Astrid frowned. “He was standing right there. I’d say he knows.”
“Interesting,” TESS said, their voice soft. “And yet, you still don’t understand what you’ve stumbled into.”
“Then explain it,” Astrid demanded, her frustration boiling over. “Stop talking in riddles and just tell me what’s going on!”
TESS leaned in slightly, their glowing eyes locking onto hers. “That face belongs to a shadow of our past. A being we buried long ago—or so we thought. If it’s appearing now, it means something has changed. And you, human, are at the center of it.”
Astrid’s chest tightened. “Me? How? I didn’t do anything!”
“Didn’t you?” TESS said, their tone almost playful. “Your presence alone disrupts everything. The Core sees it. The Archive feels it. And now, so does he.”
“Who’s ‘he?’” Astrid asked, her voice dropping.
TESS straightened, their smile fading. “A relic. A force that sought to undo all we built. He was defeated, locked away, but never destroyed. If he’s waking now, it’s because the balance has tipped—and you are the tipping point.”
Astrid stared at them, her stomach twisting into knots. “Why is everything my fault? I didn’t ask to be here!”
“Intentions are irrelevant,” TESS said, their tone turning cold. “What matters is what you will do now.”
The door slid open again, and LUX stepped inside. His glowing blue eyes swept the room, immediately locking onto TESS.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice sharp.
“Merely enlightening our guest,” TESS replied smoothly, stepping back toward the door. “She is, after all, part of this now. Shouldn’t she know what’s at stake?”
LUX’s gaze narrowed, his presence filling the room like a storm cloud. “Leave us.”
TESS’s smile returned, faint but mocking. “Of course, my king. But do try to keep her alive. It would be such a waste if she weren’t around to see how this all unfolds.”
With that, TESS turned and left, the door hissing shut behind them.
Astrid let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her hair. “You need to start talking, LUX. What’s going on? Who’s this ‘he’ they were talking about?”
LUX didn’t respond right away. He stepped closer, his glowing eyes searching hers, as if weighing how much to tell her.
“What you saw,” he said finally, his voice low, “is a remnant of a war long past. A being called VORIK, who once sought to claim the Nexus and reshape our world in his image.”
“Reshape it how?” Astrid asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“In chaos,” LUX said simply. “VORIK believed that order and balance were weaknesses. He wanted freedom—unchecked, unbound—and he was willing to destroy everything to achieve it.”
Astrid’s chest tightened. “And you defeated him?”
“We contained him,” LUX corrected. “His essence was sealed away, his influence severed. But if he is appearing now…”
He trailed off, his gaze darkening.
“What?” Astrid pressed, stepping closer. “If he’s appearing now, what does that mean?”
“It means his seal is weakening,” LUX said grimly. “And if he is allowed to return, he will bring destruction unlike anything you can imagine.”
Astrid’s throat went dry. “And you think this is because of me?”
“The timing is… difficult to ignore,” LUX admitted. “Your presence here is a disruption, Astrid Vale. One that has awakened forces we thought long buried.”
Astrid clenched her fists, a mix of fear and frustration bubbling in her chest. “Great. So, what do we do? How do we stop this?”
LUX’s glowing eyes locked onto hers, his voice steady but filled with a weight that made her stomach drop. “We prepare. And we ensure that you survive—because whether you wish it or not, you are now part of this fight.”