Chapter 13 – Nexus
The Queen raised her hands. Light flared around Damon — brilliant, merciless. Hexagonal patterns spun into reality, locking into a glowing dome around him.
"Stay back!" she commanded. Her voice cut through Damon's groans like a war commander.
The dog barked once, skidding behind Hazel. Even she — usually fearless — looked shaken, her wings flickering erratically.
The Queen ordered Hazel to fetch Dr. Tolrex.
"Mom—what's happening to me!?" Damon groaned, clutching his chest. His skin pulsed with radiant cracks, each one leaking gold.
"This is my fault," the Queen whispered. "All of it."
"What do you—aghhh—" Damon's voice broke.
Before he could finish, a blur shot through the doors. Dr. Tolrex stormed into the throne room, Hazel trailing behind him.
He placed a strange disc on the floor, pressing glowing runes along its edge. A second dome unfolded, shimmering with dark energy.
"That should hold the release," he said through gritted teeth.
Inside the twin domes, Damon screamed. The golden light inside him didn't want to be contained — it pulsed, twisted, begged for freedom. He fell to his knees, fingers digging into the ground as his bones lit up like glass.
Then—silence. The light dimmed. He breathed again, shallow but alive.
Tolrex exhaled. "The containment is stable. He should—"
The words died in his throat.
A sharp boom echoed from inside the dome. Light exploded outward, brighter than before.
"Step back, Your Majesty!" Tolrex shouted.
Too late.
The domes shattered — fragments scattering like shards of raw light, falling slow as rain.
The Queen was thrown backward into her seat, the impact echoing through the chamber. Hazel and Tolrex slammed into the steps, the dog tumbling beside them with a startled yelp.
The light faded. Dust settled.
In the center, Damon knelt — skin steaming, eyes dull, golden energy still humming beneath his skin.
He lifted his head slowly, vision hazy. Then he stood — shaky, determined.
A golden mark glowed on his chest, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. Then its light dimmed.
"I'm done," he said, voice low, steady. "No more waiting. I've heard your stories. Now you're answering my questions."
He looked around, saw Hazel's broken chair, then sighed and sat on the floor. "Feels… better," he muttered. "My bones feel free."
Tolrex approached cautiously. "My prince, you might want to stay still—"
"What do you m—" Damon's body jerked violently.
Light surged through his veins, tracing every bone. He tried to grip his other arm, but pain forced him to swing — his fist connected with his own face.
Lights out.
When he opened his eyes again, the world was quiet.
Soft candlelight flickered above him, painting the ceiling gold. The sheets beneath him were impossibly smooth, the air faintly scented with wax and polished wood.
He sat up slowly. The room felt vast. A slightly gothic chamber — elegant, heavy with mystery. Bronze and navy walls glowed with candlelight; arched windows filtered silver moonlight through patterned glass.
It was too beautiful to be real.
He glanced toward the window. A faint reflection stared back — him, but not quite. His eyes carried a golden tint now, faint lines of light tracing beneath his skin like living veins.
The door creaked open. His mother peeked in, Hazel floating above her shoulder.
"You're awake."
The dog darted in first, tail wagging, leaping straight onto the bed.
"He didn't want to leave your side," Hazel said, perching on the dog's head with her arms crossed. "What's his name anyway?"
"I… don't know," Damon said. "Natsuki was supposed to name him, but… I don't think she did."
The dog barked proudly. "She just called me 'Good boy.' It didn't bother me because she had smooth paws."
Damon almost smiled. "Guess she forgot to choose, huh?"
Hazel fluttered down onto his head.
"How is she?" the Queen asked softly.
Damon's smile faded. "She's fine," he said quietly. "But that's the last question I'm answering."
The Queen sat on the edge of the bed.
"You said Eterna can be powered by emotions to an extent, yes?" Damon asked.
She nodded slowly.
"Then… does all this," he gestured to the faint light on his skin, "have anything to do with you faking your death?"
Her lips tightened. "Yes."
He turned his head, silent.
"I did it so that your grief — your emotion — could awaken the seal within you," she continued. "The ring your father gave you acted as a channel. I'm… sorry."
Damon stared at his hand, where the ring once sat. "I knew there was something up with that ring." He clenched his fist. "Why did you seal my Eterna in the first place?"
Her gaze fell. "Because the day you were born, Gamishi tried to kill you. He learned I was with child, perhaps from a spy. Your father died protecting us — protecting Woewyn. But before he fell, he passed everything into you. His power. His experience. His soul's weight."
Damon blinked, stunned. "Why would that be dangerous?"
Dr. Tolrex, standing quietly near the door, stepped forward. "Because transferring one's Eterna requires mutual love. A bond both ways. So not only was it dangerous, it was risky."
"But I wasn't even born."
Hazel's voice softened. "Chosen Ones develop consciousness earlier — even in the womb. You must have loved him, Damon. He always spoke to you, you know."
Damon exhaled through a quiet laugh. "He must've been a playful guy."
The Queen smiled faintly. "He was. I ruled from the throne, but he… he ruled the hearts of our people."
Tolrex cleared his throat, handing a crystal sheet of data to her. "His readings are stable, Your Majesty. The resonance between his core and released seal has aligned."
Damon looked away. "Hey, Tolrex… sorry. For threatening you before."
The doctor gave a weary smile. "I've experienced worse, my prince."
"Still..." Damon murmured, scratching the back of his neck.
The Queen stood, holding the crystal. "Your father's power wasn't the only risk, Damon."
The dog groaned. "Here we go again."
She continued, "When he transferred his energy, it overflowed. Your body began absorbing Eterna before you were born. You grew too fast in my womb. To save you — and me — they called a Sealer to contain your power during labor. When you were born, another had to reinforce the seal. So many layers that even I lost count."
Damon looked at her for a long moment, eyes unreadable.
"I hated you," he said finally. "And loved you at the same time. For those months you were 'dead'... all I wanted was to wake up and see you cooking while I wished you'd take it all back."
Her voice wavered. "Damon—"
"No," he said softly. "I get it now. The fate of two planes depended on it. So you made your son live a nightmare every man dreads."
The room went silent.
He rose from the bed, faint gold light tracing his skin again. In the mirror's reflection, the weirdly‑shaped scar on his chest glowed faintly.
He ran his fingers over it — feeling the warmth, the pulse of something ancient.
"Is it normal to feel stronger now?" he asked quietly.
Tolrex nodded. "Based on your readings… yes. Before, we estimated your combat instinct matched your father's at age seven. Now, after the resonance — you've unlocked his skill at twelve."
Damon froze. "Twelve…" he whispered.
His mind flashed with Gamishi's face. His father's last stand. If even that strength hadn't been enough…
He clenched his fists. "I need to get stronger."
Hazel grinned from his head. "That's the spirit."
The dog barked. "And I need food."
Hazel tossed him a biscuit, then poked his nose playfully. "I don't feel like eating you for some reason," the dog muttered. Hazel squeaked and hugged his snout instead.
The Queen smiled faintly at the sight.
Then Damon turned to her. "I have to see Natsuki."
Her expression faltered. "You can't leave Eternum yet."
"I have to." His tone was quiet, but firm.
She studied his eyes — glowing faintly gold, full of determination and love that almost hurt to look at.
Finally, she sighed. "Very well. But Hazel goes with you."
He frowned. "How am I supposed to walk around with a fairy floating next to me?"
The Queen turned, her robes trailing
softly as she left.
"Then I suggest you go at night," she said over her shoulder. "And eat something first. We still have much to discuss."
Damon exhaled, watching the candlelight flicker.
The dog licked his hand. Hazel yawned.
Somewhere deep inside, the mark on his chest pulsed again — faint, warm, alive.
Like his father's heartbeat had never really left.
End of Chapter 13 — Nexus