Aria Stephen stood motionless for a moment at the center of the lab, the silent scream of her decision echoing only within the vast and newly awakened space of her own will. Her resolve crystallized within her—firm and cold, like steel forged by necessity. The fear hadn't vanished; it lingered, a frozen knot in her stomach. But her mastery over it—shaped through years of discipline and secret training—was absolute. She was no longer the scientist confined to theory and distant research. She was the daughter of Aetheria. She was a warrior. And her place was not here.
She turned to Reiss, who watched her with a mix of apprehension at the energy he sensed and cautious expectation after the revelation she had just shared. Pain still marked his face, but academic curiosity and the gravity of the moment kept him alert.
"I know what you're going to say, Reiss," Aria said, her voice calm yet laced with an authority he had never heard from her before. "That it's a risk. That this unnatural energy is too powerful. That my place is here, decoding Jake's mark. And you're right—in theory. But theory means nothing if there's no one on the battlefield to apply what we discover."
She stepped closer, and for a brief instant, her stern expression softened with something that resembled... compassion. She gestured toward his wounds. "You can't move. And Jake… and Sophia… they're heading alone into that. Professor Aldrich's energy signature disappeared right after that unnatural spike. Everything suggests... he's fallen."
Reiss paled further at the harsh logic of her deduction, the implication as clear as ice. "But Aria… that energy… your blood… we don't know how your connection to that unnatural force will react at such close range. It could be a… a vulnerability. And the Luminar Fulcrum—you know how unstable it is, and you—"
"I know," Aria interrupted again, this time with a nod that confirmed her understanding, not denial. "I know the risk. I know that my connection to stellar energy makes me... visible in a way others aren't to that darkness. But that's exactly why I have to go. The unnatural resonance we detected—that's the signature of that energy. And my Aetherian blood… is the resonance of pure stellar force. If anything can oppose or at least understand that power at a fundamental level, it's someone who embodies its opposite. Maybe… maybe my connection isn't just a weakness. Maybe it's also a... a key."
Her gaze hardened. "Besides, I'm not just a vessel of ancient blood. I've trained. For years. I've prepared—not just to understand the cosmos, but to defend against what threatens its balance. Underestimating that would be as illogical as underestimating the threat Raven poses now."
She stepped away from Reiss's table, her focus shifting. Her mind, once absorbed in the glyphs of the mark, now calculated distances, reaction times, known energy profiles. Urgency thrummed beneath her skin like a fevered pulse.
As she walked toward a specific section of the lab, her thoughts drifted for a moment, like an asteroid thrown from orbit, toward Jake. The reckless boy from the hallway. The one who tried to look cool with his carefree charm and easy smile. She had observed him more than she'd ever admit. The way his astral energy, though unrefined, reacted with surprising force. The fierce loyalty with which he protected his friends, even rushing blindly into danger. The genuine warmth he radiated—a disorienting contrast to the cold logic she cultivated. There was something undeniably... magnetic about him. Something that sparked a curiosity beyond the scientific. A part of her—the part she rarely acknowledged—felt a pang when recognizing the strength of his spirit. He was the kind of boy who... who drew eyes. Who inspired loyalty. Who, perhaps, had already found someone to protect with that same intensity. And though the thought was only a quiet echo in the whirlwind of her mind, the sense that Jake's heart beat in sync with someone else's loyalty—Sophia's—was a subtle wall she sensed, a distance she felt she could not, or should not, cross. It was a logical observation, devoid of drama, but tinged with a cold melancholy.
But there was no time for that now. No time to dwell on connections that felt unreachable. There was a battle to fight.
She reached a vertical containment unit embedded in the wall. This wasn't a regular cabinet—it was an energy-sealed vault. She slid her hand across a panel, entering a sequence of astral and numerical codes known only to her. The unit emitted a soft hum, the energy seal dissolving with an invisible shimmer, and a hidden compartment opened, revealing...
Not armor. Not a conventional weapon.
It was a small metallic disc. Intricate. Pulsing with contained energy. It was the core—the anchor point of one of her most ambitious secret projects, designed for the day her skills would need to manifest physically and adaptively in combat. Her own Nano-Astral Combat Suit.
She took the disc, its surface cold. She pressed it gently against her right shoulder, over the fabric of her lab uniform. The disc emitted a soft, pulsing light. And then it began.
It wasn't an instant transformation. It was a cascade. From the disc on her shoulder, a flexible, dark material began to unfold—barely visible at first. It flowed down her arm, across her back, her torso, enveloping her. Not like cloth, but like... energetic nanofibers weaving and reshaping at astonishing speed across her skin and clothes. It felt like a second skin—light, yet strong. The stellar energy, channeled through Aetherian blood and guided by her will, was shaping matter.
The material spread, covering her body. In seconds, her lab coat was gone, consumed by the reconfiguration. First came the base layer. Then, details began to crystallize.
Around her legs, the fabric morphed into thigh-high black stockings, perfectly fitted just below the knees. On her feet, short combat boots formed—sturdy, matte black, with buckle-like detailing and golden accents on the closures, giving her a stable, agile foundation.
Across her torso, the transformation accelerated. A crisp white collared shirt emerged first, with sharp, defined lines. At the base of the collar, a vivid red ribbon began to take shape—a neatly tied bow, perfectly symmetrical, contrasting against the white. At its center, a small golden detail—like a miniature brooch—materialized, adding a subtle touch of elegance.
Finally, the upper piece. From her shoulder, red fabric began to grow and structure itself into a form-fitting jacket—a modern, elegant pirate-style coat. The red material, flexible yet appearing finely woven and resilient, extended to her wrists, forming wide cuffs of immaculate white with gold trim, turned outward in classic fashion. The front closed with a double row of golden buttons, adding a martial flair. The lower edge split, opening like a short coat-tail or frock, revealing the white pleated skirt underneath, edged with a fine red trim.
Her hair—golden like Solaria's sun—remained untouched, framing her serious face. Her blue eyes, bright and determined like the sea, observed the transformation—a blend of familiarity with her own creation and confirmation that she was ready. The red ribbon she always wore, if it was in place, integrated seamlessly with the look—a personal touch to the combat suit.
The energy stilled. The transformation was complete. Aria Stephen, the scientist, now wore the hidden potential of Aetheria. The Nano-Astral Combat Suit was sophisticated, heroic, youthful—a visual fusion of her analytical mind, arcane heritage, and her decision to act. She felt light. Strong. Ready.
She looked at Reiss one last time. "Take care," she said, a silent promise in her blue eyes.
Reiss nodded, pale, but with a flicker of faith and concern in his gaze. His role was to wait. Hers was to go.
Aria walked toward the heavy lab doors. Her stride was firm now, no longer uncertain like Jake's had been when he left. Upon her shoulders and body, she carried the manifestation of years of secrecy and preparation.
The cold night air greeted her again. The scent of destruction and unnatural energy lingered. But she was no longer just a potential victim sensing it.
She was a force moving toward it.Toward the Coliseum.Toward the vortex.
The gold was being forged.