Night drifted across the plane of a young starfield, smoothing the harsh glow of newborn suns with her tranquil shadow. Time spiralled beside her, tracing invisible lines around each orbit, adjusting the movement of worlds so they would not collide before they even learned to turn. They worked as they always had drawn not by command but by instinct. They had awakened with the universe, and so they believed themselves the oldest hands guiding its fragile infancy.
Neither of them had ever questioned this.
Neither imagined anything existed beyond the universe they shaped.
And so when the light appeared, they did not know fear only confusion.
A flash of blinding gold tore through the quiet dark, brighter than a thousand suns erupting at once. Stars recoiled. Space buckled. Even Time's endless rhythm faltered under the weight of the intrusion. Night shielded her eyes as the brilliance intensified, forming a silhouette at its centre, tall, radiant, burning from within.
He stepped out of the light like a figure forged from starfire.
Night whispered, "What… are you?"
The golden being tilted his head, intrigued by their shock. "You do not know me," he said, his voice carrying an echo that did not belong to this universe. "Of course. You have never looked beyond your stars."
Time drifted forward, guarded. "You are not part of this creation. I would have felt your rise."
The golden one smiled.
"You felt nothing because you were never made to understand the truth of things. You walk this universe believing yourselves the first. Believing yourselves ancient." His radiance intensified, peeling back the darkness around them. "You are children compared to me."
Night's shadows bristled defensively. "You claim power, yet we see no purpose in you."
The golden ether laughed softly a terrible sound that made the nearest galaxy tremble. "Purpose? I have a purpose beyond your imagination. I have stood in the birthplace of existence. I have tasted the essence that forged realities." He raised a hand, and gold fire swirled around it. "I am more powerful than anything your universe can birth. I am more powerful than either of you."
Night stepped back; even she felt the truth of his strength. Time tightened its spirals, preparing to protect the delicate gravity of the worlds around them.
"Why have you come here?" Time demanded.
"To claim what will be mine," the golden ether said simply. "This universe will worship my light. All that breathes or shines will bow beneath my rule." He looked at Night and Time with cold amusement. "And you guardians of this tiny cosmic shell you will kneel first."
Before either could respond, the space behind them rippled like a disturbed mirror.
Soft silver light spilt into the starfield, gentle and cool as moonlit water.
A second figure emerged smaller, calmer, wrapped in a glow that soothed rather than burned.
Night turned sharply. "Another one?"
The silver ether landed lightly on the void, breath unsteady from her chase. Her gaze locked onto the golden ether with unmistakable dread. "You should not be here," she told him. "You were not meant to step into this realm."
Night and Time exchanged confused glances.
Realm? Meant? These words meant nothing to them.
The golden ether scoffed. "Still chasing me, silver one? Still clinging to the order you do not understand?"
The silver ether stepped between him and Night. "Leave this universe. Now. Before your presence shatters it."
"You speak as though I care for its fate," he replied. "I intend to rule it, not cradle it."
She shook her head, sorrow touching her light. "You do not seek rule. You seek domination. You seek to fill a void in yourself that you do not understand."
The golden ether's light flared violently.
"Do not presume to name my void."
"You are afraid," she said softly.
The golden ether froze.
Night saw something tightening behind his glare, something fragile and furious struggling to remain hidden.
The silver ether continued, "You fear being insignificant. You fear that, outside of your own light, you are nothing."
The golden ether raised his hand.
"Enough."
Night's shadows surged upward, but they were too slow. Time rushed forward, but his rhythm had no hold on the golden ether's power.
A spear of golden fire burst from the golden one's palm.
It struck the silver ether in the chest.
Her cry tore through the galaxies, splitting stars in its wake. Her silver glow shattered across space like broken crystal, scattering trails of shimmering dust. Night caught her before she dissolved entirely, pulling her close with trembling shadows.
"Stay with me," Night whispered, voice trembling despite herself.
The silver ether clutched at Night's hand, her light flickering weakly. "Please… do not let him… take this universe…"
But the golden ether hovered above them, radiance blazing like a consuming sun.
"I will take it," he declared. "Every world. Every spark. Every god that rises. This universe will kneel at my throne, and its guardians will kneel first."
Time's spirals grew sharp, his pulse hardening into a cadence of fury. "You have harmed one who sought only peace. You have threatened the universe we shape."
Night rose beside him, her shadows rising like a gathering storm.
"You will not touch another," she said.
The golden ether smiled.
"You cannot stop me."
And the universe trembled, awaiting the clash.