The two emerged into a land that looked as though it had been stolen from a fairy tale. Compared to the outside world, scarred with chaos and strife, this place felt untouched and sacred. The very air was different, each breath was cool and crisp, filling the lungs with clarity and easing the mind like a gentle stream washing away fatigue.
Above them stretched a sky unlike any Three had ever seen. It wasn't blue but a deep velvet black, studded not with stars but with entire floating islands, drifting lazily across the void. The land beneath their feet was one such island, and far below, in the abyss of space, countless more hovered in an endless expanse. It was a sea of islands suspended in eternity.
"It looks beautiful," Three whispered, his eyes wide as he drank in the view, unable to hide his wonder.
Lucas' gaze softened, but his voice carried weight. "It is beautiful, yes. But beauty often hides its flaws. And this place carries a danger greater than you can imagine—one that will reveal itself if the Starborns ever fall."
Three turned toward him, curiosity burning behind his youthful awe.
Lucas folded his hands behind his back and continued, his tone patient but firm. "Let me tell you something, Three. This world you see has only one entrance—the cave we left behind. What lies here is not part of our world at all, but a dimension created by the ancient races when they still walked this land. Why they abandoned it remains a mystery, but they left behind an inheritance… one entrusted to us, the Starborns, to guard."
He looked out across the drifting islands, his eyes shadowed with memory. "Among those ancient races, there was one above all—the Star Legacies. They were the strongest race the universe had ever known, undefeated and absolute. This dimension was once their domain, and the Starborns are what remains of their bloodline. A diluted branch, yes, but still carrying enough of their legacy to make us stand above others."
Three listened intently, his fists tightening as though clinging to every word.
"In the outside world," Lucas went on, "power is divided among families, each tied to a single Vitral. They build their strength on unity of one element—earth, fire, shadow, wind. But we Starborns are different. Because of our bloodline, we are not bound to one path. I wield Space. Your father commands Light and Flame. Among us, every child is born with their own Vitral, and so we stand together as many, not one. That freedom is what makes the world fear us—and hate us."
His voice grew heavier, tinged with both pride and sorrow. "The diluted blood of the Star Legacies is our gift, and our curse. It is why we can wield what others cannot, and why others wish for our end."
Three's eyes flicked back toward the rift, the weight of the words pressing on his young shoulders. "And this place… what makes it so important?"
Lucas raised his hand, gesturing to the endless black sky and its floating lands. "This dimension is not only our inheritance—it is our shield. Here, we train without fear. Every five years, blood from every Starborn is offered to the rift, forming what we call Life Stones. If one of us dies within this realm, the stone revives us outside the rift, whole again. That is why Starborns grow stronger faster than any other clan—because here, death does not claim us."
Three's lips parted in awe, but Lucas' voice darkened, carrying the weight of unspoken dread.
"But the ritual is not optional. If we fail to offer Starborn blood, the rift grows unstable. Its balance cracks, and should it collapse…" His gaze hardened. "The world outside would change beyond recognition. The Guardians themselves warned me—it could birth something wondrous, or unleash horrors this world has never seen. No one knows which. That is why our existence as guardians of this place is not just duty—it is necessity."
He looked down at Three then, his expression gentler. "And this truth, Three, is one only a few of us know. Myself, your mother, your father, and now, you."
"Why wouldn't you tell the rest of the clan? Or anyone else?" Three asked, his voice carrying the raw innocence of a child who still believed in trust.
Lucas shook his head slowly. "Because, Three, not everyone deserves the truth. The moment the world learns that it is our blood that holds this rift together, we will no longer be seen as a clan. We will become livestock, bled and drained until there is nothing left of us. Trust is fragile, and if you give it freely, it will destroy you. Remember that."
Three bit his lip, unable to argue, but the words struck deep.
"I wish I had more time to explain everything," Lucas continued, his tone heavier now. "But time has never been on my side. My departure is not just about advancing, it is about leaving behind what little I can for you." His eyes softened as they fell on the boy. "You are the last hope of our bloodline, Three. And what I ask of you is not revenge, nor the burden of carrying the Starborn name. I ask only this. Survive. Live on."
He lifted his hand, and a faint shimmer appeared in his palm. A ring, simple with a dark crystal embedded on it, rested there. "This ring has followed me longer than anyone alive. I made it myself. It is a storage ring, and inside I have placed the life stones. Nothing more. To give you treasures or weapons would only make you a greater target. These stones alone are already a heavy burden."
The weight of his words pressed on Three's chest. His fists trembled.
"Grandpa…" he whispered, his throat tight.
Lucas placed the ring gently into his grandson's palm, curling the boy's small fingers around it. "Do not mistake this for me condemning the clan. But understand this. Once I leave, the world will come. And when it does, you must endure. You may not have awakened, but fate changes in ways no one foresees. Who knows what tomorrow may bring."
*** One week Later.***
The sun hung low above the horizon, casting a warm glow over the heart of the island. At the center of the great clearing, the entire Starborn clan had gathered. Murmurs ran quietly through the crowd, but as Lucas stepped forward, silence fell. His presence alone was enough to draw every eye, and the weight of the moment pressed heavily on all.
Lucas let his gaze sweep across the faces before him. Old warriors with scars of countless battles, children who looked up with wide eyes, mothers holding their little ones close—all of them, his people. His voice, steady yet gentle, carried through the gathering.
"My family, my clan. For many years, you entrusted me with the honor of leading you. For that, I am grateful beyond words. You stood by me through hardship, through loss, through trials that would have broken lesser bonds. Today, I stand not as your leader, but as one of you, thankful for the strength you gave me."
The crowd stirred, the sadness in their eyes already apparent. Lucas smiled faintly, though there was a trace of sorrow behind it.
"My path must now take me away from you. This is not abandonment, nor farewell forever. It is simply a step into the unknown, a duty I cannot ignore. But know this—if a chance ever comes, I will return. I promise you that."
He turned slightly, placing his hand on Sid's shoulder. The younger man stood tall, though his clenched fists betrayed his unease.
"From today, Sid will guide you. He has the heart, the strength, and the wisdom to lead where I can no longer. Support him as you supported me, for the future of the clan rests in his hands as much as in yours."
A murmur of grief rippled through the gathering. Some lowered their heads, others bit their lips to hold back tears. Lucas raised his hand gently, silencing them once more.
"Do not mourn me as if I am gone. Live as you always have, grow as you always should. Carry our bloodline with pride, for we are Starborn, and our story does not end here."
For a brief moment, the air was still. Then, slowly, his figure began to blur, fading as though the world itself was letting go of him. Gasps and cries rose from the crowd, children reaching out as if they could grasp him and pull him back.
Lucas gave them one last smile, calm and unwavering. "Until we meet again."
And then he was gone, leaving only silence and the weight of his absence.