Chương 39: Cloud Parenting

Six years prior to Gray's induction into the Natural Selection… A massive spacecraft hovered just beyond the exosphere of Astoria. Its hull was forged from sleek black metal, cold and smooth, swallowing what little light touched it. Inside, a sprawling maze of living quarters and facilities spread through the ship, hallways branching toward its central hub. This vessel served as the main headquarters of the Astarchs.

In the central hub, the walls were lined with hundreds of high-definition screens, offering a god's-eye view of Astoria. The monitors kept constant watch over the planet's key locations, such as the bustling Gisaeng House and the elegant architecture of the Jade Lotus. Some feeds reached even further, showing places that existed beyond the planet altogether.

One of these monitors was fixed on a small, unremarkable cabin tucked into the middle of nowhere, on the outskirts of DustHaven, the most impoverished and lawless city in the country of Biri. Gozen and Ava had lived in that house for twelve years. The Astarchs never understood why two of the most formidable Kaisers in the world would trade their luxurious lives in Quantis for a slum like DustHaven. Until now.

"That concludes our report on the Kaiser Rai," Mikael said, setting a file down on the table.

"Are there any other matters we need to touch on today?" The three members of the Astarchs sat around a mechanical round table at the center of the hub. At its middle hovered a holographic projection of Astoria, turning slowly in silence. Red markers glowed at the planet's points of interest, and in the vast sprawl of DustHaven, a single marker pulsed alone at the far edge of the land.

"There's one thing that might interest you, Mikael," a deep voice rumbled from across the table.

"I've finally discovered why the Kaiser couple, Gozen and Ava, moved to that wasteland." The speaker was Bastion. He looked to be in his late seventies, a scar slashing diagonally across one eye, and a thick, luscious mustache that compensated for his shiny bald head. He wore a full suit of silver plate armor, though he carried no sword or weapon—only an enormous tower shield propped against the table's edge. Mikael sighed and rubbed his temples.

"Is this what you've been wasting your time on, Bastion? It isn't common, but it isn't rare either, for Kaisers to settle into a quiet life after their years of service. We've watched them for twelve years now, and they haven't done a thing to arouse suspicion." Bastion raised a finger.

"The catalyst is what matters, Bishop. They didn't uproot their lives and bury themselves in that dogwater country for nothing. The reason they came to DustHaven is because they… had a child." Mikael's jaw went tight. He narrowed his eyes at the tank across the table.

"What evidence do you have for that claim, Vanguard? Ava never reported a pregnancy to us. And our routine inspections of their home turned up no sign of a child." Bastion spread his hands in a shrug.

"Then they must have been damn good at hiding it. I have an informant inside Ava's guild. They confirmed that Ava told her inner circle she was pregnant, right before she handed over leadership and vanished." A cynical grin cut across Mikael's face.

"Is that so? The two of them should know the laws better than anyone. Hiding a child's birth from the Astarchs is a serious offense, especially for Kaisers of their caliber." He slammed both hands onto the table, hard enough to rattle the hologram, and sprang from his chair.

"Now that we've confirmed the target, the rest is simple. The only punishment fitting for their deception is confiscation. We will strip them of the asset they are trying so hard to hide." Mikael turned to Bastion.

"Mobilize the army of The Forge. I want a full platoon sent to DustHaven before nightfall. Tear that slum apart until you find the child."

"Now, hold on," a smooth voice cut through the tension. Edward King, the third member of the Astarchs, finally spoke up.

"Do you really think the best course of action is sending a force of mediocre Kaisers charging to their deaths?"

"Ava and Gozen will massacre the entire brigade before they even set foot in the city. And let's say you manage to persuade the actual competent Kaisers of Biri to turn against 'The Hero of Quantis.' What makes you think they'll sit idly by while their child is seized from them? The casualties will be immense, and it will only lead to a civil war. And all for what? A child?"

"Some hero he is," Mikael sneered, his agitation plain.

"Then what is the alternative, King?"

"The alternative is trusting me to handle it with finesse." Edward slowly rose from his seat.

"I have a deep history with Gozen. Coercing him into revealing the child's location shouldn't be hard. And once the boy is in our hands…" He tapped his temple, and a faint purple light gleamed in his pupils.

"Re-educating him on his purpose should be a trivial task. A minor mental adjustment is all it will take to transform him into a formidable weapon for the Astarchs." A sinister smile tugged at Mikael's lips as he rubbed his chin in contemplation.

"You're finally utilizing that power of yours for the betterment of the world, Edward. Very well! Proceed with your plan." The atmosphere in the modest cabin of the Garcia family was quiet and cozy. Against that comfort stood two sleek, capsule-like machines, built from white metal and glass, standing side by side like something dropped in from the future. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

A sharp, steaming hiss broke the quiet as the pods' hydraulics released their glass casings. Inside sat Gozen and his son, eyes still covered by thick goggles. The two of them had just finished an immersive gaming session together in the world of Astorian Online. The game let players clone their cores, carrying over their exact class and rank specifications. Mostly, people used the world for socializing, or for training against the simulated Riftborn and other Awakened.

While players could hide their identity by customizing their character's appearance, they couldn't play as any class other than their own—a design choice that drew plenty of criticism from the game's community. Their goggles clicked and lifted away from their faces on their own, sliding up into the headrests. The boy's face scrunched up in annoyance as he sat up and looked over at the pod beside him.

"You know you could let me win at least once, right, Dad?" he groaned, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"It's a one-on-one practice duel, after all, not a fight to the death!" Gozen sat up and cracked his neck.

"I wasn't taught to raise my kid soft," he replied, climbing out of the pod.

"The world doesn't give handicaps, boy." The boy jumped out of the machine after him.

"Yeah, yeah. I get it. Life is hard." He crossed his arms, not ready to let it go.

"But if you really wanted to raise me tough, why aren't I allowed outside? Couldn't you just teach me how to fight real monsters instead of those simulated beasts? I want to be a Kaiser, just like you, Dad!" The room went cold and still as Gozen turned to face his son.

"No!" he roared.

"Have you forgotten what I told you? It is not safe out there!"

"But… Hwan told me it's not as dangerous as it seems!" he shot back.

"He said the city is safe, and his dad is already training him against real, common-level Riftborn! Why can't you do the same for me?"

"Hwan?! Who is this Hwan?" Gozen raised a brow.

"A friend… I met in the game," the boy stammered, refusing to meet his father's eyes. Gozen's eyes narrowed into slits.

"Your friend has no clue what he's talking about." His voice climbed with every word.

"And what did I tell you about talking to strangers online?" A sharp hiss escaped through his teeth.

"That does it. You're not allowed to use the pod for a month!" The boy's face twisted into a scowl.

"I hate you!" Blood coated his forearm, shaping into a blade of crimson. He brought his arm down on the gaming pod and split it cleanly in half. Sparks scattered across the floor, and the exposed wires inside whipped wildly, crackling with the last bursts of electricity. Before Gozen could react, the boy's body dissolved into mist, a pale, cloudy shape streaking up the staircase and out of sight.

"You could've handled that a lot better, you know," a voice called out as the front door creaked open. Ava stepped inside, a paper bag of groceries balanced in both hands. Gozen grumbled and marched over to take the bag from her, setting it down on the wooden kitchen island. Ava's brow furrowed.

"Do you really think we should be keeping him in the house like some prisoner? The boy is twelve now, Gozen. He needs to socialize and make friends. Perhaps we can even enroll him in the Kaiser Entrance Exam when he turns eighteen?" Gozen shook his head.

"No. You know exactly what could happen to him if his identity is ever exposed. I'm doing this for his sake. Better he be lonely than dead." Ava waved her hand, dismissive.

"What can't the two of us handle if it comes down to it? I really think we should be—" The words died in her throat. Gozen flung a hand toward the wall. His glaive tore free from its mount and flew across the room, slamming into his palm. Ava was even faster. A red light pulsed from her chest, and blood spilled out from it, twisting into the shape of a bow. Its base was jagged with shards of crimson, tapering inward on both sides to meet at a phoenix beak in the center. An arrow of blood took shape on the string.

As she drew the bow back, the whole weapon burst into flame, fire licking along the bow's curve. The couple's gazes darted toward the front door. Three steady knocks echoed through the silence. They traded a look, and their postures went slack at once as they recognized the aura signature of the man waiting outside. Ava eased her hold on the burning bow, and in the next breath, it unraveled into threads of blood and drew back into her core. She opened the door for the visitor.

Edward stood on the porch, a charming smile on his face, both hands raised in a gesture of surrender.

"Well," Edward said, eyeing the glaive in Gozen's hand.

"That was quite the welcome from you two." Ava let out a small laugh and covered her mouth.

"Apologies, Edward. You know the situation we're in. Why the sudden visit? You're not here to get piss-drunk with Gozen again, are you?" She crossed her arms and squinted at him. Edward's smile faded.

"Unfortunately, not this time. I'm here on a much more serious matter." His voice dropped an octave.

"They know about your son." Gozen didn't hesitate.

"How long do we have?"

"Not long. I can't stall Mikael forever. So here's the plan." Edward stepped through the doorway, loosening his tie and unbuttoning his suit jacket as he moved.

"You will shatter my core."

"Shatter your core?!" Gozen shouted.

"Why would I do something so drastic?!"

"I came here to coerce you into giving up your son. I failed miserably, inciting you to fight me in retaliation. You won the battle and fled with your child." Edward pressed a palm to his chest.

"For a battle between Kaisers to look believable, I need a lasting injury to prove that I fought my hardest. A few bruises won't convince him." Gozen's jaw tightened as he shook his head.

"Nonsense. I appreciate what you're doing for us, Edward, but I won't be responsible for crippling you. There has to be another way." Gozen turned to his partner.

"Ava, go upstairs and get him. We're leaving now." Ava didn't waste a second, dissolving her body into a pool of blood.

"You aren't sparing me by refusing to fight," Edward retorted.

"If I return unharmed, they will know I let you go. My punishment will be far worse than a shattered core if they discover I colluded in your escape. You know exactly how Mikael operates, Gozen. This is the only way." Gozen's shoulders sank as he read the unwavering resolve in Edward's eyes. He was right. Edward was a meticulous man. If he said this was the last resort, he had already exhausted all other options. Gozen tightened his grip on the glaive.

"I won't damage your core too heavily." Gozen thrust the glaive.

"He's gone!" Ava's scream echoed from the second floor, halting Gozen's strike. He slackened his grip on the polearm and spun around to face Ava as she raced down the stairs.

"Gone?! Did they get to him already?!" Gozen turned back to Edward. Edward shook his head.

"He wasn't taken. There isn't a Kaiser alive capable of breaching our proximity without alerting our senses. Unless…"

"It wasn't a breach…" Gozen finished. He ran his fingers through his hair and let out a heavy sigh.

"That foolish boy…" Gozen's form dissolved into a thick cloud of mist. His smoke silhouette streaked past Edward and out through the front door.