The solar wind blew through the antennas of the rebel station on Talaris, creating a distant wail that mingled with the tense silence in the air. The floor of the judgment chamber, covered in cold, scratched metal, reflected the bluish light of the holographic screens that danced around it. Aria Kallor watched from a distance, feeling her heart race. It was the last step before their mission began, and everything depended on Elysian proving its worth to the rebels.
"Are you alright?" asked Axon, the mercenary robot. His angular lines and gleaming titanium stood out in the surroundings, but there was an authenticity in his mechanical eyes that seemed genuinely concerned about her.
"I am... but what about him?" Aria gestured slightly toward the knight, who was about to face the rebel council.
Axon's gaze, normally mechanically impassive, held a new intensity. "He'll have support, Aria. You and I both know he can do this. What happened on Velarion isn't a reflection of who he really is."
As if he had heard, Elysian raised his head, reflecting a determination that seemed almost palpable. His armor worn, his features were those of a noble defender who had lost something very precious, but would still fight to reclaim his place among the magical beings of Talaris.
— Elysian! — Aria called, approaching him. The chamber was filled with critical gazes, but their connection was enough to banish fear.
"What do you intend to do?" asked the knight, his deep, echoing voice carrying the hesitation of his journey.
"I'll stay by your side. Power also comes from vulnerability; you shouldn't be afraid to show who you are," Aria replied, placing her hand on her arm in a gesture of support and trust.
Elysian nodded, but Aria saw the conflict deep in his eyes.
The door swung open suddenly, and the council members emerged, tracing an arc of distrust around the knight. The figures who had once been honored guardians of the Aether now stood before him as judges, and jealousy of their lost powers colored the air.
"Elysian, you have been accused of incompetence and betrayal of the legacy of the Magic Bearers!" shouted Arnot, the leader of the council, a man with white hair and agitated hands. The coldness in his gaze seemed to dismantle the hope that Elysian was trying to preserve.
"I didn't betray anyone!" Elysian replied, raising his voice, but an inner audacity seemed to waver.
"And yet, your failure to protect Velarion led to your downfall!" Arnot stepped closer, the punctuation of his words cutting with the precision of a blade.
In the back of the room, Aria can see Dr. Nyx avoiding being pulled into the chaos, his eyes gleaming with the historical awareness of what it meant to be a Bearer.
"He did what he could, just like all of us," the scientist interjected, in an unlikely gesture of defense that further solidified his support.
"What we know is that he is now among thieves of history itself," interjected a tall woman with wavy hair and a strong voice. "What can be expected of someone without his power? Can Elysian lead us to victory as a mere man?"
Doubt grew, and Aria felt a cold sweat run down her spine. The trial wasn't just about Elysian's past, but about his future and what he could become. She needed to do something.
"I…" Aria hesitated, unsure of what words might resonate with this skeptical assembly, but then she remembered her own insecurities, her own calling to the Ether. "I am Aria Kallor, and I am not very different from you."
The camera turned to her, and Aria took a deep breath. Every word would count now.
— We need to change our perspective! Magic isn't just about power or control, it's also about connection and support. I see that in Elysian. He's not just a stripped-down knight. He's our ally, our friend. If we drop the masks, he might discover a new power!
A whisper swept through the judges' chamber, confusion mixed with curiosity. Arnot looked at Elysian, whose expression began to slowly transform, as if a weight had just been lifted from his chest.
"An ally, you say?" Arnot shook his head, his eyes now lighting up with a glint of appreciation, perhaps a new direction.
"Yes! An ally with a rich history, a knight who can still carry on a legacy for future generations, provided they are given the chance to rise again!" Elysian found strength in Aria's words, his posture rising slightly higher, the double weight of guilt and judgment beginning to dissipate.
The council members looked at each other, a subtle communicator of change. Time was ticking away, and as those seconds stretched on, something was growing in the room—an ember of hope.
"So, a challenge is needed?" Arnot asked, glancing towards Elysian.
Elysian's breath caught in a pause. "What do you propose?"
"Give us a demonstration of your ability. You'll face a challenge with one of ours," said Arnot, crossing his arms, his ambiguous expression now shrouded in expectation.
Without hesitation, Elysian replied: "I accept."
A murmur echoed among the rebels, a mixture of awe and anticipation at the new opportunity, and Axon advanced toward Aria.
— He can do it, right? They're betting heavily on his courage.
— He'll do more than just defend himself. He'll show us that true strength comes from the mistakes we make and the strength of the bonds we create, Axon.
The chamber fell silent; the guidelines were set. Elysian would face its new destiny, not only to validate its strength, but to secure a new dawn in the alliances they had forged.
The walls pulsed as if Ether itself sensed the intensity in the words. The challenge was set, and the trial was far from over.
"Then let the test begin!" announced Arnot, raising a light that dramatically illuminated the room.
Aria looked at Elysian, and a profound feeling of faith welled up within her. At that moment, Elysian wasn't just fighting for his own worth—he was fighting for all of them and the power that had always bound them together, even in the darkest of times.
End of Chapter 13
At this point, the true test began; not just through physical strength, but through the strength of connection, capable of transforming even the most vulnerable into a defender of the light. Aria understood that vulnerability was also a form of magic, and within it resided the seeds of the strength they needed now more than ever.