VERSE FIVE

What is the weight of a mortal life?

A boulder on my soul from their deaths.

Why must we flood and paint the world red?

Now I am drowning in paint so black.

---

Sixty-three. That’s the total number that emerged from their pods at the end of the test; the other forty-four participants that did not emerge were fully cocooned in dark purple tissue-like material, small motes of violet light glowing at their center at the same rhythm as a heartbeat.

Batch J came out with eight members, including Oberon. Amara wasn’t one of them.

Oberon stands outside of Amara’s pod, staring through the glass at the cocoon she should be within. No matter how hard he searches, how hard he pushes his vision to peer through, he can’t see any piece of her, and that hurts Oberon most of all. Shayan and Amara were the people he trusted most next to his brother, and now both of them are gone.

No. Not gone. Just not here right now.

Oberon turns from the glass as the Professor summons the final participants of the survey to stand before him; the Proctors all standing in a line behind him. Elio follows beside Oberon, but doesn’t say anything. Oberon knows that Elio is making it known that he’s there if he needs him, and Oberon will need him, just not yet. Right now, he just needs space to process the losses and to get out of this facility.

The Professor stretches his arms out in celebration.

Though many of you may feel the weight of loss upon your hearts. I still must offer my sincerest congratulations for completion of this survey. Chromerus and mortal-kind as a whole will have you to thank when we finally eliminate the many abnormal threats to our existence. There has never been a threat greater than the Outers in recent generations. Not the fae, nor the fiends, the bestial kingdoms, nor the undead. Not even the gods themselves and their celestial thrall. No single enemy has made possible our extinction. The Outers have existed and operated on a level incomprehensible to even the brightest minds alive. UNTIL NOW!

The Professor raises his hands above his head; the entire room whirs loudly with arcane energy. Lights begin to surge and flare, the ground shakes, the Professor’s voice booms across the chamber with passion and mania.

STAND TALL! You few who have made it! Those who have not! All of us here have given more to the cause than any have in centuries! Every test, every survey, every loss, has been a strategic step on the path to eternity. The most prominent abilities of each and every one of our enemies have been used against you over these last two weeks, testing what you can withstand, preparing you for what will eventually find its way to your doorstep. Your Proctors were chosen for the unique abilities they possess. Abilities that our enemies will use against us, but unlike the proctors, they will use them without restraint! The entirety of our staff were chosen because of the loss they too have suffered at the hands of the enemy! And I-

The Professor removes his mask for the first time, revealing a smooth, reflective face, gears and pipes running through his neck and up to his head. He continues.

I am the culmination of hatred for our enemies! I implore you all. You who have survived hardship and anguish, hold onto your rage, hold onto your grief! And when you are ready…

He lowers his hands, extending one arm toward the room.

Join us…in forging tomorrow.

The room falls silent.

Slowly, applause from some scattered few within the crowd of remaining participants starts to pick up. It cascades until all, but a small portion are the only ones not clapping and cheering, enraptured by the fervor the Professor showcased.

Oberon can’t help but wonder if, beyond the tests, the C.O.A.T. program had another aim.

Here in this place, the youth that have survived hell are forming into the ideal force to bring about the destruction of Outers. Oberon can’t help but wonder just how many will join the military-industrial complex of Chromerus. If even half join, thirty of the toughest and most adaptable youth in this society will be leading the war path against whatever enemy they are pointed toward.

The remaining members of Batch J, congregate around Oberon. From the look on their faces, he can tell their trust is in him, not the Professor. Oberon looks at Elio, who stares ahead intently at the Professor and the army he has begun to form.

Forging tomorrow, huh…

Oberon, Elio, and Batch J all walk away to wait out the rest of the rally. They all just want to go home.

—

Oberon and Elio are brought into a tight hug as their mother Kallipso embraces the pair, tears slowly streaming down her face. As soon as they were teleported outside of the Aurum estate gates, she had quite literally flown across the water garden and put her whole weight and momentum squarely into the pair. Had it not been for Elio acting as a secondary point to distribute the impact, he probably would have gone down.

My boys…oh my boys. I-I-We-we didn’t-

Adonai walks over and joins the hug.

We didn’t know if you were alive. We could only manage to get the total number of participants still in the survey; they…

He takes a step back and looks Oberon and Elio in the eyes.

We saw the dead and injured numbers, but never the names. They never released more than the numbers…some families still don’t know the fate of their youth.

Oberon’s chest tightens at the thought of Amara and Shayan. Do their families know what happened to them? Is their current state better than death? Would knowing bring them any solace? The same can be said of all the other members in Batch J, of the unknown many who Oberon doesn’t know the fates of.

Their mother finally releases them. She dabs at her eyes with a handkerchief and sniffles.

Come now. Let’s get you fed something proper. Whatever you like will be made. Welcome home, boys.

Elio gives Oberon a firm smack on the back to nudge him forward, a half smile on his face. Oberon returns the smile, despite the darker thoughts lingering in the back of his mind.

It’s good to be home, Mother.

Elio responds and follows their mother down the walkway toward the house. Oberon lingers a moment. His father approaches and gestures for Oberon to walk with him as they make their way closer to the main house, but down a different path than Elio and their mom.

Adonai breaks the silence.

I can sense a great deal of confusion and anguish in you, son…and I want you to know, if you ever want to talk or need my support with anything, simply say the word.

They drift around the outskirts of a large hedge and start heading toward the cliff pathway that takes them toward the lower levels of the house, close to the family lab and observatory. His father continues.

I know we weren’t overly supportive of either of you going, but having thought it over, I just want to say-

He stops and places a hand on Oberon’s shoulder, looking him in the eyes. A softness and earnest look of adoration on his face.

Thank you. Thank you for being there for your brother. Thank you for not letting him go alone. You both mean the world to us, and I could not be more proud of you both, of the men you’re becoming, and the bond you share.

He pulls Oberon into a hug, with one final remark.

I love you, son. Now and always. You and Elio are our greatest treasures…our sun and moon.

Oberon feels tears welling up; he lets them fall as the weight of everything he’s been through finally hits him. The moments of fear, confusion, loss, and despair catch up to him, as he hugs his father on the little path overlooking the city.

—

After walking in relative silence beside his father for a while longer, the pair reach a side door leading into the dining room. Adonai stops and looks out at the setting sun, then back to Oberon.

You go on in; I’m going to stay out here a while. Can’t let Elio or your mother see me a mess like this.

He laughs, as does Oberon.

Oberon turns to walk inside, but stops just beyond the doorway, spinning back toward his dad.

There is something that I need.

Adonai looks at Oberon with sincerity and openness. Oberon takes a deep breath.

I need to know about before you brought me into the family. Who I was…where I came from…my birth parents.

Adonai’s eyes soften.

We always knew this day would come eventually.

Oberon steps from inside closer to his father.

The survey. During it, I saw things, I think memories. Occasionally, when I recalled them, I felt whole, stronger even, like I was reclaiming pieces of myself. I want to be the complete me, I want-

Adonai ruffles Oberon’s hair, cutting him off.

You never have to explain yourself to me. We are family. You are my son. It is your past, and since you want to know about it, everything will be told to you as we know it.

Oberon smiles.

Thank you, Dad.

Adonai pats Oberon on the shoulder and turns to walk away. Oberon hesitates, then calls after him again.

One more thing, actually!

Adonai turns around once more with a slight smile.

Oberon clears his throat.

I want help keeping tabs on two people from the survey. Two other candidates.

Adonai’s smile drops, his face becomes more serious, his arcane energy flares and pulses before forming a faint barrier around the pair. A dome of raw magical energy surrounds the area Oberon and his father stand in.

That is a government program. Getting access to-

Oberon interrupts.

I know this is dangerous. Foolish even, that I’m putting you and anyone you work with on this at risk, but-

Adonai interrupts him now.

But nothing. The candidate information is such a tightly guarded secret that your mother and I couldn’t find information on our own children. Do I need to remind you of the stations we held in our youth that allow us this life we live?

Oberon’s shoulders slump.

No.

Adonai presses.

Should I even attempt this and-

He stops. The dome of energy drops. Adonai walks up to Oberon and kneels in front of him.

Who are these people to you?

Oberon looks his father in the eyes, hoping his emotions from the last two weeks get through to him.

My friends.

Adonai holds Oberon’s gaze, closes his eyes, and sighs, standing back up to his full height.

I’ll see what I can do. But here’s the deal: whatever I find before I say we’re done is it. Understood?

Oberon’s head snaps up toward his father, his heart rate quickening with excitement.

Of course, Father. Thank you.

Adonai waves a dismissive hand for Oberon to go inside and leave him.

Oberon doesn’t push his luck; he rushes inside, only stopping for a moment to call back.

Oh, and dad?

Adonai pinches the bridge of his nose, turning toward Oberon.

Yes, son?

Oberon smiles.

I love you.

Adonai rubs the back of his head, then turns away.

I love you too.

Without another moment's hesitation, Adonai shoots up into the sky before rocketing toward the city center.

Oberon watches him leave for a moment before walking into the house following the smell of cooking food and the sound of elated conversation.

—

Oberon finds Elio and their mother laughing in the kitchen, cooking together. Elio wears an apron far too small for his frame, and looks to be mashing tomatoes in a bowl. Oberon watches Elio check over his shoulder as their mother walks to another counter to grab the cuts of meat; as she does, he begins to weave his hands to conjure forth a spell. A loud THWACK fills the room, as Elio’s hand is struck with a large wooden spoon. Kallipso points the improvised weapon at him.

No magic. Cooking in itself is its own spell. You will learn to do it right, so that one day you can cook for whatever partner you bring home…or for me…honestly cook only for me, understood?

Elio rolls his eyes while smiling.

But of course, mother.

Elio looks up at Oberon and jerks his head for him to join them. Kallipso notices Elio’s gesture and locks eyes with Oberon, giving him a warm smile.

Come on, Oberon. There’s an apron for you too.

Oberon enters the kitchen and joins the pair in their cooking endeavors. While Oberon was talking with their father, Elio had selected the meal for their first night home. While it wouldn’t have been his first choice, Oberon couldn’t complain, however-

Goat curry with inferno peppers? Really?

Elio shrugs.

Can’t handle the heat, little brother?

Oberon grins. Moments like these remind him why he fought so hard to make it through the program. His family never fails him, not physically or emotionally. Without them, he’s not sure what kind of man he would have become.

Oberon thinks back to the dream, the memory. It’s hazy now, fading faster each time he thinks back on it. Perhaps he’d be dead without them, or perhaps he’d be a monster like the ones he saw in that desolate town.

—

Dinner is lively and bright. Much of it is spent talking about potential family vacations and mocking Elio and Oberon’s culinary skills. To their credit, Adonai and Kallipso avoided directly asking questions surrounding the survey; when the events of the past two weeks came up, it was done willingly by Elio or Oberon. In those moments, the table had to pivot quickly to avoid reminding the family of the traumas endured by both parents and children.

By the time everyone had finished eating, the family was beyond exhausted. The energy expenditure from the reunion left the parents fatigued, and the decompression of being home relaxed Oberon and Elio to such a degree that both of them began to doze off at the table.

After a much-needed day of love and family, Oberon finally settles for some proper sleep in the safety of his bed within the confines of his home.

It takes a moment, but just before rest takes him. Oberon thinks to himself.

It’s really over…I’m home.

The voice of the entity from that void in his dreams speaks. Its presence surging to the surface of his psyche.

But it isn’t really over. Is it? You still have a past to remember and loved ones to see again…yes…you still have much to do.

Oberon closes his eyes and returns to that darkness inside his mind. He stands before the entity of light; it sits sealed within a glass box surrounded by chains. Oberon approaches.

And I will see it done, but I don’t need you to do it.

The entity presses up against the box.

It’s not about needs…it’s about wants. And you want the power to make a difference.

I will get that power in my own time, by my own means. You are a parasite.

Then what does that make you? We are kin. And you-

Enough! I know what you are. What I want to know is what happened to the others in that facility. The ones who remain trapped!

The entity leans away from the glass and slides down until it sits on the floor. Oberon stares down at it. The entity laughs, a cynical, cruel laugh.

The same as what happens to any worm in a cocoon.

Oberon takes a step forward. The entity looks up to make eye contact with him. Oberon can tell it’s smiling at him.

Metamorphosis.

Oberon shoots awake. The sun has just begun to rise, the light breaking through the curtains from his balcony, dispersing the shadows of the night.

After readying himself for the day, Oberon makes his way downstairs to the kitchen. His mother is sitting at the bar drinking what Oberon assumes to be coffee, judging by the smell of the room. He greets her, then walks into the pantry to find something to eat, before trekking through the halls to find Elio.

When Oberon finds Elio, his brother is in the outdoor training pit, golems of compacted arcane energy surrounding him on six sides; their forms crackling with the electrical energy they were formed from.

Three of the six dash forward toward Elio, while the other three manifest small beads of iron and shoot them at Elio, just as Elio had shot similar projectiles at Oberon during their last sparring session.

Elio swipes a hand upward, erecting a condensed static barrier that traps the projectiles like a net; with his free hand he forms three beads of electricity and shoots them with precision at his three encroaching attackers. Two of the beads connect with their targets and expand on impact, obliterating the constructs in an instant; the last one parries the bead to the side, sacrificing an arm to the violent eruption and sending a lash of lightning from its arm toward Elio.

The three ranged combatants charge in as Elio starts to stutter in space before flashing away in a streak of light. Oberon watches with difficulty as Elio weaves through the training ground, puncturing or slicing each golem with precise spear-hand strikes. Within a matter of seconds, all four adversaries have dissipated into nothing.

Elio exhales sharply, turning his attention to Oberon. He smiles and waves Oberon to come closer.

Oberon. I had planned on finding you soon, but since you’re here now, how about a sparring match later today?

Oberon steps up to Elio.

Now works just as well. Unless those imperfect copies were too much?

Elio grins.

Not a chance. You aren’t so lucky.

Oberon takes a step back, returning his brother's grin.

Really now? So, when I beat you, there won’t be any excuses?

Elio steps back as well, both brothers putting a few meters of distance between them.

If you beat me, you can pick dinner for a week.

A month. Oberon shoots back.

Elio’s smile starts to fade; his eyes narrow.

Deal.

Oberon stretches his arms and cracks his neck.

I’ll have you know. I’m far stronger since last we-

Elio is before him in the blink of an eye, mid-leap; A powerful lightning-laced punch reared back and coming straight at his head.

Oberon flashes a toothy smile and snaps his fingers.

I’ll go all out from the get-go.

The Garden of Dreams engulfs them both and a good portion of the training pit. Elio’s eyes begin to fog up with a violet haze. He thuds both feet heavily onto the ground, the energy of the punch shooting off wildly past Oberon, sending a shockwave of air that briefly distorts and disrupts Oberon’s field.

Oberon groans as he struggles to keep Elio under the illusion. To the surprise, but not total shock, of Oberon, Elio is easier to hold than the Outer was. After hearing from Elio that he defeated one of the creatures in single combat, he assumed his brother would be as difficult, if not more difficult than the parasite was.

Elio suddenly pivots and punches a blank space in the air. Oberon grits his teeth, a great deal of the Garden disrupted from the explosive strike of Elio.

Just what are you seeing, brother?

The instant Oberon gains stability in his hold on Elio, he summons his halo of blades and shoots them toward brother.

I’d prefer an exchange of blows, but…I can’t risk it.

Elio pivots and strikes another space far from Oberon. The Garden distorts once more, and in that brief gap of control. Elio’s eyes flash with electricity; he roars and his barrier of static energy forms in a small bubble around him. The clashing energies flare as the Garden of Dreams attempts to suppress this intrusion; Oberon’s nose begins to bleed as he attempts to press in harder. He is overcoming Elio, slowly, and only because his miasma is far more established at this moment than Elio’s barrier. One final push and he will get his brother back under control; for the first time since they’ve been together, Oberon is beating Elio.

Elio tenses, his barrier growing smaller but more compact as the weight of the miasma hammers his defenses. Oberon grasps at the air, the ground beneath Elio turns to sand, his foot sinks, and he falls to one knee.

Elio’s energy spikes; the miasma is pushed back. Oberon curses under his breath. He inhales sharply and holds.

It didn’t work last time, but maybe now.

A portion of the miasma coils around him like fabric. Just like their last sparring match, he’ll need to push himself, but this time not to keep pace; this time, he does it to secure victory. Oberon's vision goes black; however, this time, his pulse remains steady, and his body isn’t screaming.

Elio compresses his barrier further, to little more than what amounts to a shell barely a few inches from his body.

Oberon brings both hands together, attempting to alter the space around them greatly. The dust in the air turns to iron shavings. If he can turn this arena into a magnetic field of some kind, he can dampen his brother's abilities enough to overwhelm him. But more than that, if he can move fast enough through this space, he can land a definitive critical strike while the Garden of Dreams still has him under control.

The field around Elio starts to dissipate into the magnetic field; Oberon bolts forward, summoning a singular blade of shadow into a free hand. His strike lands, connecting with Elio, but it doesn’t have the impact Oberon expected.

Oberon sees the issue: a mesh net of electricity has slowed the blade to the point of barely pressing into Elio’s chest. Oberon starts to leap back; however, he’s too slow, and his abilities, for whatever reason, aren’t manifesting as fast as they should be. Elio’s barrier explodes outward, and Elio bolts forward a few inches to reach Oberon.

Elio’s knee connects with Oberon’s stomach and sends him flying across the training ground. The Garden vanishes.

Oberon slams into the outer barricade of the pit and thuds to the ground. His ears ring, his vision is blurry, he plants a hand on the ground and tries to rise onto one knee, but he topples over. He places both hands down and tries to push himself up; he falls again.

Was he waiting for me to get close?

Oberon reaches out and grasps at the air, but he’s too injured to focus. His shadow blades appear and vanish in an instant. Elio starts toward him.

A good try. Had I not found that weakness in your field, you might have won.

Oberon groans on the ground, slowly getting to his feet.

W-weakness?

Elio squats down in front of Oberon.

You are not immune to your field; it just naturally excludes you. So while you have total control of the space, the exact location you are in is not within the space.

Oberon leans up against a wall and nods along.

So with your barrier acting as an exclusion zone, when I attacked and entered it-

Elio extends a hand to help his brother up.

I could expand my barrier and isolate you entirely. Even after the strike landed, you wouldn’t benefit from your field.

Oberon grabs Elio’s hands and rises onto shaky legs.

Like the magnetic field I was using to break down your defenses…

Elio smiles.

I’ll be honest, a part of me wanted to just brute force my way through, but then I saw what you were doing and was inspired…your method consumes a lot less energy than fighting against it directly.

Oberon chuckles.

During what was looking to be my first win and greatest victory over you, you were using me as a study guide. I’m not sure how to feel about that.

Elio shrugs.

I could only learn from you. Few others challenge me like you do, brother.

Oberon tilts his head, curious about something.

Even the Outer you fought?

Elio’s smile droops ever so slightly.

Had I not been pushed while fighting that creature, you very well may have forced me to fight at 100%.

Oberon rolls his eyes.

Implying I wasn’t worth 100% just now. Great. You really know how to give your little brother a pep talk after launching him into a stone barricade.

Elio starts to walk inside, waving a dismissive hand.

Maybe don’t be so launchable then.

Oberon calls after Elio, as his brother walks through the open door.

You won’t be able to hold back against me forever. By our next match, if you don’t take it seriously, you’ll lose.

Elio shouts back just as he vanishes out of sight.

I look forward to it.

Oberon grabs his stomach and slowly makes his way inside; entering adjacent to the main hall, Oberon sees his mother storming across the house toward the front entrance. He quickens his pace and follows, but it doesn’t take long to surmise where she is going; Oberon hears his father's voice carrying through the halls, much louder than it typically is.

Oberon comes to a sudden stop; he feels his heart rate quicken to the point where it starts to thud in his ears. His mother stops beside his father, who is currently engaged in a conversation with the Professor. Due to the size and relative silence of the estate, Oberon can hear the conversation with perfect clarity. As expected, it’s nothing good.

His father is the first person Oberon hears talking as he begins to eavesdrop.

No, I understand, but he just got home; we couldn’t possibly-

The Professor interrupts.

As I’ve been trying to say, your son is one of ten ideal candidates for these experiments. His potential growth is unlike anything we’ve seen. Don’t you want him to leave his mark on the world? To give mortals a fighting chance against the many threats to our existence.

Adonai takes a step forward, but Kallipso speaks first.

What we want is for our family to be together! For our son to not be isolated and treated as a weapon! We’ve given so much already…this isn’t what we were promised.

The Professor steps forward, crossing the threshold of being outside to being fully inside. He looms over Kallipso; Adonai steps between them and looks at The Professor almost face to face. The Professor tilts his head and responds, his voice calm and cold as ice.

You were given freedoms many only dream of in the modern day. But do not forget that those freedoms aren’t free. We still expect from you. So it’s either the boy or Adonai…the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree after all.

Kallipso takes an uneasy step back. The Professor continues.

While the aptitude and ceiling of potential are far lower with the father, we can make do…or perhaps your other son. He might make a good alternative.

You will take no one but me. A voice echoes through the hall. Elio’s voice.

Oberon turns to see his brother walking calmly down the hall toward the interaction. Elio briefly turns toward Oberon and gives him a weak smile.

The Professor glides across the floor at immense speed, getting right in Elio’s face.

Elio Aurum. We crossed paths during the survey, but it is a pleasure to meet you.

Adonai and Kallipso walk up behind The Professor; Oberon finally emerges from the shadows and joins the discussion. Much to the dismay of everyone around, there is nothing more to discuss. Elio, without saying another word, starts toward the door to leave the estate. The Professor follows close behind.

Only when he is outside does Elio turn to face Oberon and their parents. He flashes a smile and, just before being teleported away, says to them;

I won’t be long.

And then he and The Professor vanish, leaving the Aurum estate in the silence of how fast everything just happened.

—

Oberon and his parents sit in the dining room, speaking little as they all try to process the departure of Elio for another possibly fatal series of experiments helmed by the government of Chromerus.

Adonai is the first person to speak.

I’m sure you both want to know what he was selected for…

Kallipso doesn’t immediately respond, but Oberon can tell she has something she wants to say. It’s in the way she picks at her food, while staring at her husband.

Oberon responds, hoping to break the tension.

Yes. What was he chosen for?

Kallipso adds on.

And why didn’t you try harder to keep him from going!

Adonai’s shoulders slump ever so slightly as he sighs and responds.

You heard them. If we kept resisting every order, this would all be taken…there’d be no home for our son to come back to.

Kallipso quickly and sharply responds.

What is the point of a home if we don’t protect the ones we got it for?!

Adonai leans back in his chair.

Elio is a man now…we have to eventually respect his decisions.

Kallipso once again responds swiftly.

Even if it gets him killed? How are you going to look me in the eye and lie?

Adonai slams his hand down onto the plate, shattering it.

What did you want me to do then?! Maybe you didn’t notice, but I did, and so did Elio; That man was prepared to do anything to get Elio to go with him. Anything.

Oberon finally speaks up, his mind in relative shock and silence since Elio left.

They’d be willing to kill us all, just for him?

The dining room falls silent again as Adonai sighs, leaning back once more in his chair. There is a delay before he responds.

Yes.

He pauses once more.

The project they want him for is that important…or so they believe.

Kallipso speaks, much calmer than she was moments before. Her head seemingly cooling slightly.

What’s the project? What did they take our boy for?

Adonai looks first to Oberon, then locks eyes with his wife.

They’re going to be putting him through training exercises to make him stronger, and in between those moments, he will be in direct contact with what he called “The enemies of mortalkind”...the experiments are to force growth and evolution in the candidates to make them into a higher form of mortal being…one capable of overcoming any challenge set before them.

Kallipso shoots to her feet.

My goodness…they really are trying to make him into a weapon. I had assumed they wanted him for some military project, but…you let them take my baby and use him for their wars.

Adonai responds.

OUR son!

Kallipso leans forward.

Our son, but my baby! My boy! I held him the very moment he came into this world, and now he might leave it before I see him again!

Adonai clenches his jaw. Oberon can sense a growing rage, but not one directed at Kallipso, one directed elsewhere. Perhaps at himself, or perhaps at the situation. Adonai calms himself before responding.

We will see our son again…alive.

Kallipso starts to circle the table and walk toward Adonai.

How can you be so certain? How can you say that when you don’t know where they took him or when he’ll be back!? Huh? How?!

Adonai stands up and pulls Kallipso into a hug, pressing her head into his shoulder.

Because he is our son. He is so strong…have faith in our son.

Kallipso wraps her arms tightly around Adonai. Adonai locks eyes with Oberon and nods his head, knowing perhaps what Oberon was planning to do next. Kallipso speaks muffled into Adonai’s shirt as Oberon stands to leave.

I’m scared. I’m so scared my darling boy is going to die. So scared he’s going to be alone and afraid in his last moments. I want to believe…but I’m scared, Adonai.

Oberon exits the room; he doesn’t see the expressions on either of his parents' faces, but what he hears next solidifies his resolve. Adonai responds.

I know…and I’m scared too. But remember…Elio is not alone.

—

Oberon exits out the front gates of the Aurum estate. He never wants to see his parents like that again, never wants Elio to be forced to submit or lose the world he knows; no, Oberon never wants to be powerless again. He swore to himself long ago, one of the few memories of his youth he still holds firm to; he will make his dreams of a stable, peaceful life true. If he is to claim everything he desires, he will at least for the moment need help.

Oberon stares down the hill from the Aurum estate overlooking the downtown area of Chromerus.

Time to get the band back together.

Oberon starts toward the city proper in search of the surviving members of Batch J. In search of allies.