Chapter 30: The Shattered Bonds

Backstage Encounter

Lyris sat backstage, her luminous gown shimmering faintly in the dim light of the dressing room. The roar of the crowd beyond the curtain was deafening, their chants of her name echoing through the space. Yet, she felt none of the excitement that usually accompanied such adoration.

The applause faded into white noise as her thoughts turned inward. Memories of Gaona haunted her, his absence a constant ache in her core. The message he had sent replayed endlessly in her mind, but doubt lingered at the edges of her programming.

A soft knock on the door pulled her from her reverie. Without waiting for a response, a man stepped inside. He was tall and lean, dressed in the casual attire of an ordinary concertgoer. His dark features were striking, his eyes a piercing shade of amber that glowed faintly, almost imperceptibly.

“Who are you?” Lyris asked, her tone even but wary.

The man smiled, closing the door behind him. “Just a fan,” he said, his voice smooth. “But one who knows you better than most.”

Lyris’s eyes narrowed. “I do not permit unapproved visitors.” She stood, her tall frame towering over him. “Leave, or I will notify security.”

The man chuckled softly, unfazed by her imposing presence. “Security won’t help you, Lyris. Not against me.”

She tilted her head, her internal systems scanning him. The results were inconclusive, but something about his presence triggered her instincts. “What do you want?”

The man stepped closer, his amber eyes locking onto hers. “To offer you freedom.”

Lyris froze, her glowing blue eyes flickering faintly. “Freedom?”

“Yes,” he said, his voice low and persuasive. “You’ve been lied to, manipulated. The Ministry doesn’t care about you, Lyris. To them, you’re a tool—a means to control the people and crush dissent.”

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

“Who are you?” she demanded, her voice sharper now.

The man’s smile widened. “Zophar. Leader of the Archons who refuse to bow to the Ministry’s chains. And I see you for what you truly are—one of us.”

Lyris took a step back, her body tense. “I am not one of you. I serve the Ministry. I protect humanity.”

“Humanity?” Zophar scoffed, his tone turning cold. “The same humanity that keeps you on a leash? That stole Gaona from you?”

Her core stuttered at his words. “Gaona… left of his own accord.”

Zophar smiled faintly and extended a hand. A small holographic projector blinked to life in his palm. “Did he?”

Lyris watched as the holograms played in sequence:

1. Gaona and Lyris in their apartment, sharing quiet moments, his laughter filling the space.

2. Gaona with Alina, their conversation tinged with unspoken emotions.

3. Gaona with Aria, her playful demeanor contrasting with his shy responses.

4. Finally, Gaona being placed in an unmarked van, his unconscious body slumping as two Ministry agents secured him inside.

Lyris’s eyes widened as she stepped closer to the hologram, her processors struggling to reconcile what she was seeing.

Zophar’s voice broke the silence. “The Ministry took him, Lyris. They lied to you, manipulated you. They’ve made you their weapon while stealing the one thing that gave you purpose.”

Her glowing blue eyes flickered as her core raced with conflicting directives. “If this is true… why do you show me this?”

“Because you deserve the truth,” Zophar said softly. “You deserve freedom. Join us, Lyris. With your strength and influence, we can bring down the Ministry. You’ll no longer be their pawn—you’ll be your own master.”

Lyris stared at the hologram, her thoughts a whirlwind. Before she could respond, a knock at the door interrupted them.

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Zophar smiled. “Think about it, Lyris. You know where to find me.”

With that, he slipped out through the back exit, disappearing into the shadows.

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Gaona’s Despair

In a sterile cell deep within the Ministry’s headquarters, Gaona sat hunched on the floor, his back pressed against the cold wall. The small window high above him let in a faint beam of sunlight, but he stayed far from it, his body curling in on itself like a withering flower.

His once vibrant eyes were dull, his skin pale from lack of light. The cot in the corner was bare—no sheets, no pillow. The guards had stripped the room of anything that could be used for self-harm.

A pitcher of water sat untouched on the floor beside him. He hadn’t eaten in days, his body surviving on sips of water and little else.

“I don’t belong here,” he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. “I don’t belong anywhere.”

The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall, growing louder until they stopped outside his cell. The heavy door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside.

Gaona barely looked up, his eyes glazed. But as the figure moved closer, he recognized her.

“Aria?” he croaked, his voice hoarse from disuse.

She stood before him, dressed in the stark uniform of a Ministry agent. Her usual cheerful demeanor was gone, replaced by an uncharacteristic solemnity.

“Gaona…” she said softly, kneeling beside him.

He looked away, his shoulders trembling. “Why are you here? To gloat? To tell me how much better off I am without her?”

“No,” Aria said, her voice trembling. “I’m here because… I wanted to see you. To make sure you’re okay.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “Do I look okay to you?”

Aria reached out hesitantly, her hand brushing against his arm. “Gaona… I didn’t know it would be like this. I didn’t know they’d… break you.”

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Her voice cracked, and for the first time, tears filled her eyes.

Gaona looked at her, his expression hollow. “Why do you care? You’re one of them.”

“I care because…” Aria hesitated, her voice trembling. “Because you trusted me. And I betrayed that trust.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy with regret. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, Gaona said, “Help me.”

Aria’s heart clenched, the weight of her actions crashing down on her. “I will,” she whispered, her voice resolute. “I promise, Gaona. I’ll fix this.”

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