Scheming

Everything in Eversouth, a main city in the Star Clan territory, located 50 miles away from their main branch area, is made of lavish wood and bright green vines spiraling up their buildings, forming beautiful roofs of flowers.

The midnight blue streets were lined with tall, sturdy poles on each block, reaching 158 thousands feet into the sky towards a golden platform, which houses an esteemed academy for clan members that don’t attend Lightless, with an ornate design of crossing stars and dancing numbers.

Vienna concentrates attentively on probing the insides of the building across from her with a string of stella energy. Its angelic wing structure towering over a massive autumn landscape, with rows of cities and shops.

People flutter in and out of the grand gothic entrance. Dead silence clouding the atmosphere.

Every weekday the people of the southern continent enter a silent state. The reason for why this happens is a mystery. The only known fact about it is that Mother of Angels ordered a decree to be silent during specific hours.

It’s Wednesday, and they can speak once more at midnight until 12:00 pm.

The southern unique way was unfortunate for Vienna’s scheme, but not too significant that she had to halt her plans.

Vienna knew immensely well that if she were to get caught, death is her fate. Not only that, if she gets noticed, she’ll make an enemy of the Heavenly Star Lord, Pillar of Star Clan.

However, Vienna does not give a damn.

Winter break just started, so with this little free time, Vienna decided to go to an auction house to buy a much needed item.

Problem is—she’s painfully broke.

She doesn't get paid for her duties of aiding the council, and she is an orphan, never having met her birth parents. She’s been in many foster homes and none of them really stuck.

They hated her brilliant mind, which saw through their facades with ease.

Those who did not fear her wanted to use her.

How Vienna earns money is by going on space missions alone, yet she hasn’t done an expedition lately and all of her savings ran out a week ago.

It’s humbling moments like these that raises a bit of regret within Vienna for not accepting one of the holy clans offers.

While pitying herself, a solution sparked in her head; if you don’t have money, steal from someone who has plenty!

****

Each continent has their own currency system. The northern uses gold coins, southern—gems, western—dollar bills, and eastern—token shells.

Another useful thing the council at Lightless do is facilitate trade between holy clans by exchanging banknotes and providing pillars with their correct currency. 

For instance, the north is known for producing all technology and the west specializes in creating fine clothing that doesn’t rip or get damaged when using divine powers, while the south has excellent minerals for constructing structures that last for eras and the east grows rare fruit and innovative potion ingredients.

Lightless is the only place where the currency from all continents can be used.

****

Vienna's scheme is straightforward and child’s play. With the reluctant help of Rogue Oberon, a lesser clan member of Star Clan, she’ll be looting from one of their vaults by disguising herself as him.

Vienna had no doubt the money she takes will be tracked back to her if she doesn’t swap banknote. This is no problem since she has a good relationship with the council.

If they questioned her, she’s confident she can manipulate them to see past her actions.

Besides, the auction was in the western parts, being held by the Wise Star of Sun Clan—Wise Stars are advisors of the pillars.

The vault she is preparing to loot is known as ForestKeep. The square edifice towers the edge of Eversouth, with a dark lawn and guards donning light cloaks stationed in front of the double glass doors.

Vienna eyes linger on the guards as she asserts their power level, finding it to be below Ophanim. 

If things went wrong, she reckon them not to be a threat.

After thoroughly examining the ForestKeep structure, gaining a good concept of the ins and outs, she withdraws the string of divine energy.

Erasing her tracks as she returns to the inn, Vienna muses under her breath with a humorless smile. “This is almost too easy.”

****

Shadow of tendrils curl around a ruined planet. A surge of billions of hearts beat in sync within fractured lights, which gradually crack, shattering into countless starlight. 

A silent bang trembles reality as dazzling light sweeps into the ruined planet, as if healing it.

Ishaan's head pulsates as unknown words flood his mind in wave after wave. 

The ruined planet forging back to its golden state, revealing it to be earth, is the last sight Ishaan sees before he jolts awake.

His heart hammers in his chest so hard he swears he can feel it threatening to burst out.

For the first time in a long time, sweat breaks out on every inch of his body.

Ishaan removes his now dampened blankets and sits up slowly when his eyes land onto a radiate lady next to him.

Ishaan goes rigid, his muscles coiling into tight knots, as he tries and fails to hide his violent unease.

Despite being over forty, the lady’s beauty shone like it did in her younger days, with brown smooth skin, delicate angular features, braided long golden curly hair, purple glitter eyes, and wearing a lovely pearl white pinkish gown. She tenderly strokes Ishaan's cheek with a kind smile.

Ishaan's throat constricts with thick emotions. “Mother.”

“My baby boy. I haven’t seen you in what feels like forever.” Her soft voice is equally kind, the sound awakening a nostalgia bile in Ishaan. “How have you been? I bet you have stories to tell me.”

“Remove your hand please,” Ishaan commands in a small voice, resisting the urge to hurl her entire being away.

Alamea Iniko flinches, her warm expression contorting in disapproval. “You came out of me, child. I have the right to touch you!”

Ishaan exhales deeply, feeling way too exhausted for someone who just woke up. He summons Helios, trading places with him.

The messenger, always present in Ishaan's soul, allowed Ishaan to hide inside him.

“What the?” Alamea snatches her hand away, fear surging her eyes as she stares at the creature of sunlight settled on a king size bed, its existence burning away the fabric and material. “Running away like the child you are. You’re just like your father. A coward who thinks strength will lessen the truth!”

With a blank expression, Ishaan's mother stomps out the room with vile curses.

Ishaan's heart sank in despair, guilt clawing within like wrathful poison. 

‘Are you okay, master?’ Helios asks worriedly.

‘I’ll be fine.’

Ishaan's mother was diagnosed with an olden cancer, one that even divine powers couldn’t cure. 

Records of the eras before were announced as forbidden history, so it was currently an unknown condition. Documents of its truth scatter through lies and games in the river of time.

All that’s known is that the disease causes people’s minds to rot, exhibit signs of personality disorder, memory lapses, and undergo dissociation of themselves, becoming soulless beings.

Ishaan loves his mother as much as he dreads her. He’s terrified for her, and ashamed at his helplessness.

He couldn’t help her and that was his greatest catastrophe.

Shame bleeds his soul more than misery.