(Theron POV)
My brother and father never liked the use of astral relics; they thought it was a dishonor to the high Pantheon Solaris to use any power other than the one he gave us. I wasn't so naive. I knew there were flaws to every power, so I conquered rift after rift, gaining relics to balance myself.
The strike from my brother's avatar was brutal. Not only did I feel my body slowly crumbling from the force, but my soul was also starting to unravel. But in the midst of the beating, I could tell he still wasn't giving it his all, despite how far down the crater his barrage had sent me. He was desperately looking for a moment to stop—he didn't want to kill his idol. I knew that, so right as I felt his form start to fade and flicker, I used one of my relics to erase my cosmic signature. With his cosmic energy depleted and my signature gone, he would assume I died and not check to see if it was a ruse.
My little brother never learned. He was too trusting of others, even if they were supposed to be dead. At first, I was just going to use it to escape and recoup and accept my loss, even though it pained me to do so. But when I saw the two beams of light streak high into the atmosphere, I knew I potentially had one shot at finishing the job before I left.
As I lugged my battered body to the cliff, things were just as I thought. My brother had barely recovered enough cosmic energy to walk, let alone put a protective layer around his body. He was a sitting duck, unassuming of what was to come. I called for my soul weapon. I drew the crimson string made of decay energy to my cheek. One solid inhale was taken. I visualized my arrow piercing his body. With the cathartic release of my breath, the arrow sliced through the air, heading for its target.
A moment later, the target was hit, and critical damage was taken. "So long, brother," I muttered to myself as I released the second arrow, aiming for his head. To my annoyance, the second arrow never landed. My kill shot was deflected by a wave of solar energy, quickly followed by another wave headed toward my location. My father had come to their aid. Even though I would have loved to take on my old man, I was in no shape to fight another astral knight.
Quickly, I solar-stepped through the city of Gavelon to the outskirts where the astral gate resided. My soul had taken much damage from Ezra, but entering the astral realm in this state was the only way to ensure Zaire wouldn't track the heat signature left by solar step. It was hard to maintain my fused astral form after I stepped through the portal. My mind, body, and spirit were not in alignment, making it hard to do even simple tasks.
I walked for hours in the dry area of the astral realm. I replayed every moment that had just transpired. It was something I had been looking forward to for a while. I yearned for the time to defeat my little brother. To prove to my father, and the universe, and those who govern it, not to doubt me. Not to belittle my thoughts. And yet, I still didn't feel as satisfied as I thought I would.
The part that nagged me was how I handled Cyrus. I was so caught up in defeating my brother and being the victor, I lost sight of the underlying goal. I needed him to be on my side—the side of truth. "I was naive to think our bond would immediately get us past this moment. A deserved penance," I muttered to myself, stumbling over my feet in the astral realm.
"Those who see the hidden path to salvation are always demonized at first, Theron—remember that." A cold and raspy voice said, almost as if someone had whispered into my ear. I was too tired to even try and look to see where it came from, but the voice was familiar.
"So you've come to greet me yourself. To what do I owe the pleasure of my master coming to see me?"
"I've come to retrieve you. Your soul is damaged; I'm sure you can feel it."
"That's an understatement. How did Kael ever kill an astral knight?" I mumbled as I tried to get up off one knee.
"He didn't do it head-up. He caught them in a trap. He was never a stupid man—just an overly proud one," my master said as he materialized before me. "You, on the other hand, let your emotions get the best of you. You got cocky. You played with your food. And the boy got away."
"I didn't get Cyrus, but I took out Ezra."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that, my apprentice. You may have won this altercation, but Ezra is not dead. He will be out of commission for an indefinite amount of time, but he is not dead."
"What do you mean, Master?"
"Your father was able to stabilize him."
"Dammit."
"Next time, I expect a different result, Theron."
"Yes, Master."
"But there is one thing I am curious about."
"Regarding what, Master?"
"Your nephew. He doesn't have the Solaris constellation, correct?"
"No, he doesn't. I just noticed that his chest glowed magenta, and gravity seemed to change around him. I've never witnessed or heard of a constellation capable of that. Do you know?"
"I'm afraid I do—all too well. It seems other parties have already gotten involved in our game, and they seem to be desperate. We need to capitalize before others in the Pantheon begin to take heed," my master said as he called forth a portal leading to his quarters in a remote part of the astral realm. I hobbled through and once again turned my back to family.