DEKANI

Valian Dekani Price, now separated from his crew and Valian Brethren, attempts to take the fight to the Severens on their turf. But is one Valian enough to turn the tide of this war?

Prologue

Gods are not born.

For they are made.

This was the fundamental philosophy behind Toron architecture.

For we were created by Lord Ballard, as weapons against the Severens.

For the mighty Tora. The military guard of the Toron were not enough.

Did the Toron commit etreum, and take in the survivors of the Void Incident. Thousands of children aboard the craft that day, experimented like livestock.

To produce the strongest warriors. Wrapped in steel. Bathed in the Void.

Gun and blade.

We were unmatched.

Our way of war, taught to us by the Tora Soldier Nava.

We fought back the Severens. And tore them apart. Warriors who felt no pain. Who fought with infinite stamina. For our consciousness was what drove the Lances. Powerful warriors who gave their lives, either voluntarily or involuntarily, to the Toron Empire, to serve the greater good.

But it wasn't until we met Lena, after the Great War against the Severens. After Queen Luna was destroyed and the otherworldly empire fled, and we had slain the Toron Empire with the same weapons bestowed upon us by Toron Nobles.

Did Lena take us in.

And from that day forth, we were complete.

Tora Nava taught us the way of war.

Lena taught us the way of a defender. Of a spy. Of an assassin. Of a mercenary.

All for her own gain... isn't that right kiddo?

"Silence...." I muttered.

All of that. To destroy and fight the Scrava and the Corpo. The last remnants of the Toron Empire. You fought so the Severens didn't. We were trained to serve the Severens. Deceived by Lena.

"I said be quiet!" I roared, as I found myself awake. My body was still trapped, and I found myself face to face with what appeared to be a gigantic empty skull of a bird.

"Prince Nero." I sneered at the towering Severen.

"Dekani Price." Nero mused, as he paced back and forth in his bony frame.

"Where is Lena?!" I yelled, but Nero paid me no attention, inspecting me.

"You are in no position to speak, little Valian. Without your Lances you are nothing. You are just a boy. Yet despite that, it was still enough for the Void to influence my dear sister into almost compromising all of us."

"YOU deceived her!"

"I brought Lena home." Nero growled, his face inches from mine.

"If it had not been Ballard's emotional yearning for Freya, and the Void warping his mind, Lena would still be apart from her kind. She simply has returned home. And you demand that she leave us once again for a Void devil like you?"

I gritted my teeth.

"Lena is no longer a part of you. She had forsaken her sequence. To become someone better."

"She became someone she was not. Perhaps you will never understand. A Void devil like you would never understand the importance of family because you lived most of your life without one."

My vision became red with rage.

"What do you know of my tribulations, you Severen scumbag!"

Nero opened one of his limbs, revealing two orbs.

"Every Severen's life. Is one of greater. But even so, death is not without mourning. Our mother. Queen Luna. It was because of YOU she had died. This empire was our last chance. Yet your lust for battle. Your lust to kill. Your lust to draw blood."

Nero traced his fingers against my face as I winced in pain.

"That is the difference between us Severen and you Valian. We fought for a purpose. Do you know what we call those who kill for the fun of it? Psychopaths. You and your brethren were given so much power, and you used it for your own desires."

Nero's scratching became more intense as blood began to trace down my cheek. I did my best to withstand the pain. As a Valian, pain was foreign to me. I was always in my Lance. And we never felt pain in battle.

"This universe... it is an unfair and cruel place. Queen Luna was dying. We needed to save our Queen for she had done so much for us. But a higher power destroyed our chances. All for the ridiculous purpose of self satisfaction. But this ends."

Nero backed up.

"This ends because now, Lena has returned to us. She is the new Queen, to avenge Luna. And we will never. Ever. Give another Queen over to the darkness that is the Void."

I closed my eyes as Nero left the room.

Something went ran down my cheek. Tears.

"Mother..."

The Severen flesh was curling around my limbs now as I felt my body start to disintegrate. My very essence disappearing.

Was my war against the Severens justified? Was my very existence justified? Nero wasn't wrong.

We took Queen Lena away from them.

We took Queen Luna away from them.

If I didn't exist...

The Severens wouldn't have so much hate. Luna would have lived. Lena would have been happy.

But because I was here, along with the rest of the Valian, Lena chose to abandon her mission. She raised us, and became brainwashed. She killed her own kind.

Who were the real bad guys in this story?

"Maybe I should just... disappear..." I murmured as everything turned black.

* * *

"Steel your resolve. Your enemies will grow fierce. Trust in your training." Nava said as I resolved out of my Excal lance, falling to my knees and vomiting all over the floor. I was still a little child at the time. Still new to my void powers.

I looked at Nava, his stoic and regal face. He had no sympathy. Sympathy was for the weak. That was the Tora way.

"Stand, Dekani Price."

"But... Nava I can't." I gasped as I crawled forward and grabbed Nava's feet.

"No more... please no more..." I begged, but Nava zipped away with blinding speed, aiming the blade to my face.

"Will you beg the Severens for mercy as well?"

"No..."

Nava knelt down in front of me.

"Will you serve the Toron?"

"Yes."

"Why is that?"

I paused. Nava never asked us stuff like this before. When we trained with the Tora soldier, he was always harsh on us. He never cared about what we felt. We were weapons of war. For the longest time that was how it was.

"I... is such a question relevant?"

Nava's eyebrows furrowed in disgust as he picked me up with one arm.

"You dare question my teachings, Valian?"

"I-"

"Open your eyes. Dry your tears. Recede your nausea. And look around you."

I did what I was told.

"What do you see?"

"Nothing..."

Nava dropped me on the ground.

"You claim to wish to serve our nation. Yet time and time again you hesitate to lift your weapon. You hesitate to bring the blade down. You fear killing. And because of that fear, you never advance, while the rest of your brethren move forward, you remain steadfast. So I will ask you again."

Nava leaned in closer to me.

"Why do you want to serve?"

I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth.

The answer was obvious.

"I want to be a Valian so I can protect my little brother, Arsani. So I can fight in his place. I want to become a better Valian than my brother so I can protect him. But at the same time, I want to keep my integrity."

Nava raised an eyebrow as I continued.

"I will protect Arsani from the horrors of war. Even if we are both at the front. One of us will need to fight, so the other will not. Arsani is pure. If I kill, I will lose myself. And I can't bear to see Arsani watch his own brother be consumed by the darkness."

I got to my feet as I resolved back into my Excal Lance.

"I will become a Valian. I will serve the Toron Empire. But I will do it in a way that doesn't compromise who I am. So I can both protect my loved ones but stay true to myself. That is who I am, Nava. That is my Valian way."

That's right. The whole crux of who I was as a Valian was fundamentally to protect the people I loved. But to keep my own integrity. And to stay true to myself.

My mind flashed to the day Lena had approached me. I chose to stay behind and become a defender, knowing full well that it would be looked down upon by my Valian brethren.

"Do you fear battle, Valian?"

I clenched my fist.

"Yes, Lena."

"Of all the Valians who went forward to take the battle to the front, you swallowed your pride and stayed behind. Your honour for your family, and your integrity overrides your ego. Not many Valian possess this trait."

"That isn't it, Lena. Arsani is gone from me now. He doesn't know who I am. And he has become a far greater Valian than I. My brother doesn't need my protection anymore."

Lena regarded me.

"Then why do you choose to stay-"

I turned to her.

"Because I want to stay and protect you."

Lena paused.

"Dekani..."

I resolved out of my Lance and approached the woman who I thought of as my mother. I didn't care if she was Severen. I didn't care about any of that.

"I don't care if my kind hates me for it. I don't care if I'm called a coward. But... I want to stay and be with you. Because you are also one of the people I hold most dear. I will lay my life to protect you."

Lena pulled me into an embrace as I felt warmth spread through my body.

"You are not a coward, Dekani. You are something far greater than your kind. You are special because you choose not to be special. You are strong because you choose not to be strong. And it is because you offer something the others do not."

Lena stroked my hair.

"I see all the Valian as my children. To each Valian, they acknowledge my feelings. But they act along their purpose. But... you are different, Dekani. Because you reciprocate my love."

Energy began to well up in my body as tears raced down my face. The Severen's control weakening on my body as I clenched my teeth and powered up. I will not let the Severens take over my body. I will escape.

Lena's voice echoed in my head.

"When you are in trouble, I will be here for you."

The shackles began to crack as I yelled. The void energy in my body overloading the confinement I was in.

"And when I am in trouble... Dekani Price... promise..."

Nero wanted Lena back. Maybe his reasons made sense.

But so were mine.

"Promise you will be there for me. My dear son."

"RAAAAARRGGHHH" I yelled with all my might as I destroyed my restraints, floating in the air as I unleashed a powerful void blast and destroying the walls. I landed on the ground as I stared at my hands, which were glowing teal.

I needed to get out of here. I needed to find the rest of my crew. So I can regroup and continue with my quest to save my mother. To find Shane, and to guide him. Just as Lena had guided me.

I ripped my way out of the prison. One step at a time.

Umbra

"Folock, come in." I whispered.

No answer.

I closed my eyes and concentrated, trying to scan for the signal of my ship, but there was nothing.

"Dammit." I grumbled.

Was my Orbiter destroyed? What became of everybody on board? Aurora, Rinne, Umbra, my Lances. Folock. Everybody...

My heart twinged in pain.

Shane...

I hid behind a pillar, as a group of Severens walked by me.

Undetected.

A battle isn't always won with might alone. For a true warrior knows to conquer in the light, and to strike in the dark.

This was a lot harder to do when I wasn't resolved in a Lance. But even so, I remembered everything that Nava had taught me.

I snuck around the ship, until I crawled into a small crevice. I peered down, and nearly gasped.

A dark red and black throne room. From one corner, were several Severens stationed. To the right side of the throne, was Nero. And at the center...

Her body connected to dozens of cables. An extremely advanced Severen exoskeleton. Far bigger than the others around her. But I recognized her right away, that kind, warm, and motherly face that we always thought of whenever we jumped into battle. We fought for that face. We fought for her.

"Lena..." I whispered, as I concentrated, my consciousness escaping as I entered void mode, dashing to the corner of the throne room.

"My queen." Nero's voice echoed in the room, as he got down on one knee before Lena.

"Speak, brother." Lena said.

Nero lifted his bird shaped head.

"The Star System has been thrown into chaos. Our invasion has begun. The New War commences, just as it had so long ago, we shall strike the Toron Empire once more. But this time, they are without defenders. The Tora, long since extinguished. The Valian fight amongst the remnants of the Empire, blinded by their pride."

I clenched my teeth.

Dammit.

The Severens started their attack.

Lena narrowed her eyes.

"And what of our battle in the past?"

Nero nodded.

"We have yet to locate the root. The source of the Valian kind. However, SHADOW has uncovered something revolutionary."

"Speak."

Nero ran his appendage across the ground.

"The Unarmored Valian: Shane Mayen, is not fully Terran."

My heart stopped.

No way... they didn't...

How did they find out what Shane was? If they uncovered his true identity... he would...

Lena looked at her brother, her eyes wide.

"The Unarmored Valian wields the Infestation. He has overcome the Infestation's influence, and fights with the power bestowed only by those from the House of Licita. And now, on top of all of this, he is also not human?"

Nero hesitated. He could sense the frustration in his sister's voice.

"Forgive me, my Queen. It was my error for underestimating the one known as Shane Mayen."

"Why has he not been destroyed, Nero."

"We cannot. My Queen, you must understand. This Shane Mayen... he is part us."

Lena paused.

"Severen..."

"Indeed. I have reason to believe one of our Oculysts may have mated with the Toron Noble Kirin Licita, and conceived a natural born halfbreed."

"If that is true, his potential surpasses SHADOW."

"And not only SHADOW... but I believe Shane Mayen may have abilities similar, if not the same as SHADE."

I clenched my fists, hard. I wanted to stop this so badly.

It felt like I was watching the world unravel. The start of the spiral into apocalypse.

But if I jumped down like that, I would be cut down. I had no Lance. All I had were my void abilities.

"Where is Mayen now." Lena asked.

"The Terran-Severen hybrid has escaped a Murex. According to SHADOW, he has discovered his nature. As of now, we are unsure of what he is capable of. He has amassed a following under his other name: Shardis Licita."

Lena was silent for a few seconds. And to my disbelief, her eyes momentarily glanced at mine.

"Leave me, brother. As with the rest of you."

I watched as everybody filed out.

I stumbled back, still in my void mode, as the cables disconnected. One by one. The body of a woman emerged from the Severen flesh as she walked from her throne to my direction.

"Remove your veil, Dekani Price."

Against my will, I felt myself obliged to obey her, and I materialized in front of my foster mother.

"Lena..." I muttered, as I wanted to walk forward, but stopped myself.

"Why do you hesitate, Valian." Lena tilted her head, as if I was the most intriguing thing ever.

"Lena, please... I... You've abandoned-"

Lena held up her hand.

"If you came here to tell me to abandon my people, then the void truly has warped your mind, Dekani Price. However, I must commend you. You are the first Valian to stand here before me, before the same room that the Maker had once stepped foot in. The same room my mother, Queen Luna stepped foot in."

My breath was ragged, as I felt myself trembling from the emotion that was overwhelming my body. My face became wet with tears as I found myself before the Severen Queen, defenseless. Lanceless.

"Do you know why I did not kill you? Despite detecting your void presence this entire time?"

"What?" I asked, as Lena smiled.

"Why you. Why not Zennen Ful, the greatest of your kind? Why not Achel Divinear, the smartest of your kind? Why not Quorra Lavine, one who commands the largest alliances in Valian history? Yet here, the one who stands before me, a mere mastery rank 18 Valian, who hesitates to kill, who stubbornly only uses the Excalibur Lance because of the very emotions that are spit on by his kind. Dekani Price..."

Lena waved her hand, as the windows in the throne room opened up, revealing the starry sky of a beautiful galaxy. The light of the trillions of stars casting upon the room an illuminance of beautiful colours.

"... the weakest Valian. Has done what no Valian has ever done before. To be face to face with the leader of all the Severens, and be spared."

"Lena, what are you planning. Why are you doing all this? I don't understand at all!" I shouted.

"Perhaps part of the fake me still lives. That illusion of love. For you may have been the weakest Valian, but you were the kindest. You were the only one to ever reciprocate my love. Had it been fake. Even so..."

Lena ran her hand across my face as I closed my eyes, tears running down my cheeks.

"I cannot kill you without feeling some degree of regret."

"Then... don't... don't do this. Call off the war... Please mom... please just come home..." My voice broke, my hands trembling, but then Lena pulled her hand away, stepping back.

"Tch." She said as she turned around, walking back to her throne, my eyes widened as I held out my hand.

"Lena-"

"You misunderstand me, Valian child. Just because I say that I cannot kill you without regret, does not mean I will kill you at all. You are still my enemy."

My heart hurt, but I shouldered the feelings and trudged forward. I knew what to say.

"AM I THOUGH?!" I screamed, as Lena was taken aback.

"AM I?! You say that I am your enemy. But then you say you will feel regret if you kill me. You say I am the only one who reciprocated your love. If that's the case, why are we enemies?! Why would your own enemy be your own son?! Be your own children?!"

Lena's bottom lip quavered momentarily.

"For it was but a lie. A lie made by the void."

"So what if it was a lie?! So what?! If you taking us in was a lie, then maybe my whole existence is one too! Maybe our whole existence was a lie! But even so, we're still here! We're alive! Maybe that's just how it is. Maybe that's just what the world wants, or this maker you keep talking about."

I clenched my fist as I walked forward, Lena instinctively created several Severen tendrils to hold me down, but I ripped them away with void energy.

"Look at me, mom. I'm walking up to you. But as your enemy, you could have just alerted your guards. You could have killed me right here. But you're not. You're not, mom. Because deep down, you know you still love us. There's no reason for us to fight. There's no reason for this at all."

Lena hesitated.

"I... Dekani..."

I stopped, as something ran down Lena's cheek.

A tear.

"Mom!" I ran forward, but she held out her hand, stopping me.

"Dying... I am..."

"Let me help!" I begged, but suddenly, Lena's face reverted back to its expressionless demeanour.

"A lie once more, from your void trickery."

My outstretched hand went slack as I felt defeat all across my body.

"Do you enjoy emotionally manipulating, void devil?"

I gritted my teeth. I said nothing. Nor did I feel like saying anything. I felt like I had just...

"Then I shall indulge in your despair, Valian. Emotional manipulation."

The sound of a blade appeared behind me as I whipped around, to see the silhouette of a man approach me. The sword was glowing a bright blue.

My heart rate increased as I stumbled back.

"What the hell..."

A black scarf fluttered as the man approached me, his exalted weapon scraping the ground and producing sparks. The light from the sparks illuminating the face of a modified version of the Excalibur Lance.

Umbra levelled his sword, and slashed at me with his signature slash dash. I void dashed out of the way, but Umbra closed in again, his blade narrowly missing my face as I fell on my back.

Umbra appeared in front of me, his sword in the air, as he stabbed down. I dashed out of the way once more, evading the strikes of my old friend as we stood face to face.

"What have you done to Umbra?!" I growled at Lena, who watched from above.

"Just as you have emotionally manipulated me, I will emotionally destroy you, Valian Dekani Price. For you so loved this Lance, like a father, I have remade him. In the image of an enemy. He shall see you as such. Now Valian, will you die by his hand, or will he die by yours?"

The Lance material began to corrode, revealing his horrifically scarred face, and his eye, which was full of fury.

Umbra brandished his sword, as he charged forward, fully intent on taking his Operator down.

I concentrated, as my body dissolved into void energy. I dashed forward, entering Umbra and initiating Transference.

"Umbra! Remember who you are!" I shouted at the spectre from within Umbra's consciousness. But I couldn't get through to him. There was something there. Something malicious.

Umbra rejected the Transference as I was shunted out of his body, landing on the ground. Umbra towered over me and slashed down, as I rolled out of the way, scooching back.

"Despair, Dekani Price. Despair, void devil. For you so emotionally manipulated me, I shall emotionally destroy you. You love this Lance. I will exploit this love of yours."

I glared at Lena and fired a void beam at her direction, but several Severen limbs intercepted my blast. I void dashed again to evade Umbra and began firing void blasts at his direction, but it didn't matter. My mastery with the void was average at best. Against the superior defenses of the Lance that I had spent the most time modifying and upgrading.

"Damn you. Nero, you Severen scum!" I growled as I continued evading, but by the last void dash, I stumbled and slid across the floor of the throne room.

I was out of void energy.

"UMBRA!" I roared, but Umbra paid me no attention, dragging his Skiajati across the ground.

I turned to Lena, who regarded me coldly.

"I will save you mother. I promise. I promise on my name, Dekani Price. I will undo whatever Prince Nero has done to you!"

Umbra slashed and caught me in the forearm as I yelled in agony.

"I... Umbra... do you... really not recognize me." I muttered. My vision was beginning to go hazy from the bloodloss. I stumbled back as the throneroom opened up, revealing a distant planet.

"Leave me, void devil. I want no more from you." Lena said, as Umbra rushed forward and tackled me out of the Severen ship. The two of us hurtling to the ground.

"Umbra!!!" I yelled as I tried to escape the Lance's grasp.

I closed my eyes. I needed someone. I needed...

"Folock! Initiate contingency plan Q."

We continued hurtling to the ground as something appeared from the corner of my vision. A horrifically destroyed spacecraft in hundreds of segmented pieces.

I concentrated, and resolved myself into the wrecked Lotuscraft, as I felt myself hurtling to the ground.

Remember who you are. But do not be limited by what you are. Dream not of what you are, but who you wish to be. Lena's voice rung in my head as I summoned everything I had.

Steel your resolve, Valian. For you are different than a Tora soldier as I. Your power comes from within. The stronger your will. The stronger your resolve. The stronger the weapons you wield to battle.

Tora Nava.

I will steel my resolve.

I growled as parts of the Lotuscraft began to fix itself.

"O- Operat- Operator!!!" Folock's voice beamed from within the internals of the Lotuscraft that was currently a part of me.

"Folock! Pinpoint Umbra!" I yelled, as I rerouted the thrusters of the Superorbiter, attempting to slow the fall.

"Unable to find. Operator, we have more pressing issues!"

My internal sensors picked up several bogies.

Severen units.

"Folock, how's the Railjack integrated guns doing."

"45% operational."

"That's more than enough."

I stopped our descent as I spun around, to face the horde of Severens that were coming from the sky. But they weren't just coming after me. I watched as one Severen swooped down and fired a ray of energy which blasted chunks of the land, causing numerous villagers to scatter.

Several of the villagers emerged from their shelters and tried to fight back, but against the might of the Severens, the battle was extremely one sided. My enhanced field of view showed the landscape in more detail, as it was only now did I realize that the whole place was ravaged by the Severen invasion. Fires burning. Corpses and chaos all around.

What were they doing? Were they trying to take over this past as well as the one in the future?

I concentrated, as numerous reticules aimed at the Severen swarm. I then willed my mortars to fire, as numerous rockets chased them down, exploding on sight.

The Lotuscraft, somewhat restored from my Transference, landed on the ground as I continuously fired my guns in turret mode. Fighting back the aerial forces until they retreated.

From the corner of my eye, I caught him. A tall figure with a black and red coat, and flowing white hair.

"Shardis." I said, as he looked me in the eye, smiling.

SHADE then turned around, disappearing into the shadows, as I resolved out of the Lotuscraft, stumbling onto the ground.

I looked back, and watched as my Superorbiter fell apart into pieces, as the void energy that I was emanating was all that kept it together.

No way home.

No way to contact the Valians.

No way to contact Shane, or the rest of my crew.

I was stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Reconstruction

At least Folock was somewhat restored.

"Operator! What has become of our crew! Oh dear, the Orbiter is destroyed! This is terrible!"

"Folock, calm down. I need to think."

"But Lena is still out there! And Umbra!"

"Damn you Folock! Just be quiet!"

Folock made a whimpering sound.

"The operator is starting to sound like the mini-operator..."

I sighed as I approached the villagers.

"Are you... a god, sir?" One of them asked.

"No. But I require the resources to repair my vessel. Where can I acquire them?"

The villagers looked amongst themselves.

"I believe the forest of The Grove may have what you need, for what is natural comes from within the wood. But it is guarded by the Pixie of the Grove. Or so it was told."

"Tua, do not spread such lies to the savior of this village! The Pixie does not exist."

The villager hit the other one on the head.

"You dare speak ill of our goddess?!"

"I am simply stating the truth! If the Pixie exists, why does she not protect our village?! Why is it this man who fell from the heavens, bathed in metal, the one who fought off the invaders?!"

This pixie...

"Operator, they are speaking of her."

"I know." I muttered.

I knew exactly what these people were talking about. And I knew exactly what this place was, considering they mentioned the Grove. We were in the past, that much made sense.

As for this Pixie of the Grove, in decades to come, it would become known who this pixie was, and her legacy would become one with the Valian Arsenal.

"I am going to The Grove to repair my craft." I announced, as I turned around, but one villager, a young girl grabbed my wrist.

"Please, savior! Do not go yet. Not until we have repaid you in full for defending our home."

I hesitated, but an older villager nodded his head.

"I agree with Nora. Please, savior. Come and allow us to treat you to a stay. It is the least we can do."

There wasn't time. Umbra was on the loose once more. His brain most likely corroded by whatever the Severens had done. My crew was missing. Shane's status was unknown, and if it was true that he learned of his Severen origin, and not only that, but learned of his real name, it was only a matter of time before he started to turn into his evil counterpart. There was much to do.

"Operator... it isn't wise to rush into danger this way. It is reckless. Both Nava and Lena would not have advised such thinking." Folock spoke to me from within the ear implant that I had salvaged from the ship.

I stayed the night, as I sat in a small hut, which was attended by Nora and an elderly man, named Roul.

"May I ask of your age, savior? And your name?" Nora asked.

"My name is Dekani Price. I am 16 years of age."

"Ah, so you are the same age as me."

I glanced at Roul, who was bedridden.

"What has become of your father? Is he ill?"

Nora looked down.

"My father is plagued by the Black Disease."

The Black Disease. Nava had once told me about it. Years ago. A terrible pandemic had ravaged the planet that housed the Grove. It had killed many, and a cure was not made. Until the Pixie of the Grove had supposedly cleansed it.

But from what I was hearing from these villagers, this pixie had disappeared. To not be found.

Was my presence in this past influencing the timeline?

If it was... was there a way for me to change Shardis Licita's future? Was there still hope?

"I am sorry to hear that, Nora."

"It's okay. I reckon you must have had it rough as well."

"Why do you ask?"

Nora regarded the scar on my forearm. Then the markings on my face.

"Those are battle scars. Influenced by the energies of space. You wield highly advanced technology to battle. The people in this village believe you to be a god sent from the heavens, but I am not like them. I am more realistic."

"Are you a doctor?"

Nora pursed her lips.

"I wanted to become one, because I recognized our lack of understanding of science. We devoted our lives to The Pixie of the Grove, but in the end, I know this Pixie would not be our guardian. We have done nothing to deserve her approval. We pollute this land. We use its resources. We kill the beasts in the wood. But our people still selfishly demand much from her. As humans, we need to recognize reality. By being a doctor, I can actually help others. Rather than relying on legends and fables."

Nora looked at her bedridden father.

"Or so I thought. My father is now infected by the Black Disease. And I am getting nowhere. I... I don't know if I should continue-"

"You should." I cut her off.

I put my hand on hers, as she looked at me.

"One who recognizes their wrongdoings. Their selfish desires. And one who wishes to take action to addressing this. There is no reason to stop."

Nora sniffed as she rubbed her face.

"You are the first to tell me these things. The people in this village have all called me crazy for thinking this way. The only person who believed in me was my father... and now he is ill."

I looked out the hut at the night sky.

"Dekani, why have you come here?"

I sighed.

"I came here not out of my own volition. I was battling those creatures from the sky and I ended up here. My ship is in ruins and my arsenal is destroyed. I need to return to my people. The Grove has what I need, yes?"

Nora looked down.

"Yes. But... resources such as metal and those required for the technology you wield... this will require you to venture deep. And to take from the Pixie is essentially challenging her to battle."

"You mention the resources I need require me to venture deep... has your people not entered the forest at its core?"

Nora shook her head.

"No. It is far too dangerous. We have only entered the outskirts. The few people who have entered and survived speak of the Pixie and her frightening power. How she would slay those who take from her by force. I know you are formidable. Your technology is great. But it is still dangerous."

The gears began to turn in my head.

"At the core of the Grove, I will find what I need. Perhaps I may find what you need as well to cure the Black Disease and save your father."

Nora's eyes widened.

"No, Dekani. I cannot ask that of you. It is too dangerous. To take from the Pixie the materials to repair your arsenal is dangerous enough. I don't need-"

I looked Nora in the eye.

"You want to become a doctor, don't you? You want to save your father, right?"

Nora stared at me.

"Yes, but-"

"Then let me see your resolve. I will return from the Grove with whatever it is you need. You will become a doctor and save this village from the plague. And you will change your people."

I stood up as I faced her.

"Those with ambition are those who look to success. Those were the words taught to me by two of my most beloved teachers, and that is what I will teach you, Nora. For when the Severens invade again, your people will need one who can save lives."

The next day, I went to the ruins of the Lotuscraft.

"Folock, is there anything I can salvage out of this mess?"

"That Alpine floof the Mini-Operator bought for Miss Thresh seems salvageable."

"A witty Dataform is perhaps the last thing I should have salvaged."

"Operator!" Folock whined.

But the thought of that made me smile.

Shane loved Rinne. Despite everything he told me about how he thought he could never find a girlfriend. And how he believed he wasn't a man to be loved.

Under all that incel thinking, was a man who loved Rinne Thresh, and would go to the extent of spending the allowance that I had given him on buying her things she liked.

"Operator... none of the Lances are salvageable. However... there are several weapons that can be repaired."

"Good. Then commence the operation." I said, as I resolved into my Foundry, and began to rebuild myself some of the weapons that I had left.

A Skana Supra.

A Corinth Supra.

And a Heat Dagger.

I then browsed through my inventory, picking up pieces of the Hannibal Lance.

I resolved out of the Foundry, as I cladded myself up with Hannibal's parts. Slinging the Corinth across my shoulder and strapping the dagger to my belt.

Never in Toron history did a Valian ever wield their weapons by their own hands. And perhaps it was for good reason. My body felt sluggish, as the weapons weighed me down.

Shane Mayen must have trained hard to be able to wield these weapons easily, and fight alongside me.

But as demoralizing as it was for a Valian, one of the elites in the Toron empire, to be staining his Operator suit by wielding iron, this was a choice I had to make.

I bid the villagers farewell and nodded at Nora.

I then turned around and walked into the darkness with my limited arsenal.

Queen of the Fairies

"Folock, can you map out any energy signatures?"

"I'm sorry, Operator, I can't do that with the technology currently at my disposal."

"Dammit." I grumbled.

"I'm so sorry... I feel so useless..." Folock whimpered.

I had to spend at least five minutes cheering Folock up and convincing him that he was a good friend to me before proceeding. The sky was getting dark and we were getting nowhere with the hunt for resources. In addition to that, my body was starting to ache.

It never occurred to me how unfit I was, at least until I started lugging all of my equipment around.

I sat down in a section of trees and rested my body against a tree trunk. There wasn't much gear I had aside from my Operator suit, but I managed to dig out an old set of gear from when I assisted the Vent Kids in Fortuna. The rough attire was enough to act as some form of armor. I never imagined it would be of use to me until now.

It had to begun to rain, and my body was wracked with chills.

"Folock." I muttered.

"Yes, operator."

"Do you remember the last time I was like this?"

"Yes. It was when we invaded the Fortress of the Kuvites. Your Transference signal was intercepted, and you had lost your Lance and I to them. Without your armor or ship, you were stranded in the snow, searching for a way back."

I closed my eyes.

"And here we are again, full circle. I was alone then, and I am alone now."

"Please don't say that, Operator. You have me now."

"True. But I never imagined so many things at stake."

"I do not understand."

I lifted my finger, tracing the symbols for the five schools of focus for the Valian Void Way. Leaving behind teal lines in the darkness.

The first symbol: Shoki - The Way of Offense

"I went back in time to try and find Shardis Licita, to keep him from becoming SHADE and walking down a dark path. By saving him from the darkness, I thought I could prevent the emergence of the Great Valian Killer. But I failed. I don't know what has become of Shane Mayen."

I drew another symbol: Varn - The Way of the Arcane

"Taking in Rinne Thresh, the adopted younger sister of noble Rinzler Thresh, was at first an idea I hesitated in accepting. To pull her away from the House of Thresh would cause political tension. But seeing Rinne warm Shane's heart, and her very presence as a healer, it brought a certain atmosphere to the Lotuscraft that I never imagined would come to be. But now, she is lost. Being converted to a Severen as we speak."

The third symbol: Rolo - The Way of Resilience

"And Umbra. A Tora Soldier who was stripped of his freedom to fight, and to watch himself mutilate his own son. To save him from the endless torture of reliving the same memory over and over again. I loved him like family. For he filled the void in my heart when Lena left us, while I filled the void in his heart from when his son left him. Now he has been rebuilt, the hatred fuelling him again, and I don't know if I can save him this time."

The fourth symbol: Pilov - The Way of Acceptance

"Folock. No. Folan Asheel. Despite remembering your past as a Toron mercenary, you chose to act as my Dataform anyway. I will forever be grateful to you. But you've now become reduced to a mere earpiece. I cannot even restore the Lotuscraft, a proper body for you."

The fifth symbol: Quass - The Way of Support

"And Aurora. The innocence that I had left behind, manifested before me. We as a crew gave her a second chance to live life as a little girl. Free from poverty and the pain of being an orphan. I've lost her to slave traders."

I clenched my fist as the void traces disappeared into teal sparks.

"I feel like a failure as a captain."

"Dekani Price."

I paused.

"F- Folock... you never call me by my real name."

"I know. But you must hear this. And I don't know what worth there is from an old, broken Dataform like me to be saying this. But not once have I ever believed you to be a failure. Not once. And neither does anyone in this crew. No one is thinking about how much you have failed them, Operator. No one is thinking that."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I don't need calculations to know that everyone is worried about you. Worried for each other. That is what everyone is thinking. Because you are worth that much to them. You are not a failure until you fully let yourself be consumed by your self guilt."

I clenched my teeth as I got up.

"You are right Folock. I cannot be swallowed up by this. As their captain I refuse."

"That's the spirit!"

I trudged forward into the darkness, using the earpiece as a light while Folock did his best to try to locate the core of the Grove.

Suddenly, we paused.

"Rustling, Operator."

I aimed my Corinth at the source of the moving leaves.

"What is that... I should hide."

"Gain distance, Operator. Judging from the way the leaves are moving, this is a large animal."

I leapt back and made distance, as the form of a wild boar emerged from the leaves, roaring at me.

I took aim and fired without hesitation, as the boar fell to the ground, pieces of its tusks breaking off onto the ground.

I approached it.

"Folock, identify."

"Those are morphics, Operator."

I picked them up and put them in my bag.

"So it begins. Let's continue."

Folock and I continued to fight deeper and deeper into the Grove, collecting resources. However, we were still missing the major components for the Lotuscraft, and in addition to that, the major component for the cure that Nora needed to craft an antidote to the Black Disease.

By the fifth or so hour, we had reached the core of the Grove, marked by a unique circle of plants and a small pond. For some reason it was barren.

"This is 44.6% a trap." Folock said.

"This is definitely a trap." I replied.

"This is 95.6% a trap." Folock corrected himself.

I sighed as I concentrated, entering void mode as I crept to the center of The Grove.

An unusual mound of dirt had accumulated with a hole inside. But judging from the light illuminated from within the mound, we had reached the jackpot.

"I need to access those resources." I said.

If I could momentarily exit my void mode...

Suddenly, the vines around me began to move, closing me off from the rest of the Grove. I stumbled back and attempted to void dash out, but I was trapped.

"What the hell?!"

"Operator! We're trapped inside!" Folock cried out, as if it wasn't already obvious.

Why have you come.

A voice emanated in my mind as I fell to my knees, grasping my head.

"What is this?!" I growled, as the earpiece began to pop and smoke.

"Folock?!" I said, as the earpiece fell to the ground. My eyes wide, as I realized it hadn't broken internally.

There were bullet holes along the side.

Something was flying around me, and I wasn't able to pick it up, when suddenly, my leg burst in pain, like a bullet wound as I fell to the ground once more.

Why have you desecrated this sacred land.

"I know who you are." I seethed, as I could hear the fluttering of wings moving around me.

Many know who I am. For I am the Pixie of the Grove. I protect this land. The wildlife in it. For the humans have so polluted it. Leave this place.

I got to one knee.

"I can't do that. I need the resources to repair my vessel. To fight back the Severens!"

This is none of my concern. Let these Severens come, and destroy the humans.

"If the Severens destroy the humans, they will destroy this Grove as well!"

I will not let them.

I aimed my Corinth and fired at the walls, but the bullets weren't go through.

"It's not a matter of letting them or not. Even you are not strong enough to fight back their might. I need the resources this Grove offers to defend them."

You defend them because they are your kind. Just as I will defend nature, as from nature I was born.

"They are not my kind."

I do not believe you.

Another bullet penetrated my hand and I dropped my Corinth, my eyes wide with pain.

I was starting to black out. I needed something to resolve into, otherwise I was going to die.

I couldn't find her, meaning the only way...

I put my hands together and unleashed a void explosion. Felt it connect as a small body grew in size, until a familiar looking fairy with its signature golden Supra Toron trim fell to the ground, disoriented.

I ran forward and put myself on top of the Pixie and held her down.

"If you shrink, so will I."

What are you...

I continued holding her down.

"My name is Dekani Price. Please. Just listen to me. I need your help-"

The Pixie kicked me away and threw me into the side of the ravine, until one her guns was aimed at my forehead. I put my hands up.

Realistically there would have been no chance I could win. But I needed to get through to her head.

Why would I help a human steal from the very place that had blessed me with.

"Because I know. I know that the you now is not fully one with the Grove."

The Lance hesitated, as she slowly lowered her weapon.

"I know where you came from. The Pixie who was modified, changed by an old researcher. A Pixie, one who survived the onslaught of human deforestation, forced to watch her kind be killed off. You were all that was left. Until a group of scientists took you in."

How do you know this?!

I continued, as the Lance began to step backward.

"They hurt you. They ripped your wings off, and replaced them with new technology. They turned you into a mechanical monstrosity. Using the Infestation. But one woman, she took compassion on you, didn't she."

Watch yourself, human. You are treading on light water.

"She loved you and protected you from the scientists. Gave you a home in the Grove, and you in turn protected her from the wild. But once the scientists came, they slaughtered her, and you in turn, killed them off. Her final wishes was for you to protect the Grove with your newfound power."

How do you know these things. No one knows these things. No one-

I held out my hand as cyan energy emanated from it.

"Years into the future, my kind. The Valians, will resonate with you, and remove the hatred in your heart. I know because I am one of them. Your rage becomes ours rage. And we bear the burden together. So please. Help me. And I will help you by protecting the Grove from the Severens."

I stepped forward and put my hand on the Lance's shoulder, as the void energy began to calm her down.

"Your true name isn't the Pixie of the Grove is it. I know what it is."

The Lance began to fall to her knees as I sat down in front of her.

"Please. Help us. Help us fight off the Severens in this planet. Help us preserve life. Not just the Grove. But life altogether. If not helping the people, at least help me, like you helped that researcher that day."

"Help me fight, Titania."

I felt something connect, as my body resolved into hers, our burdens shared together.

This was the principle of Transference.

The purity and innocence of a child, mixed with the void, and the power of understanding. For the merging of two, was from the acceptance of both. Does a warrior become one.