I locked eyes with my mother, seeking guidance. "Do you think Alex will be angry with me if I choose Xander, after everything he's done for me?""Aurora," my mother soothed, gently stroking my hair, "I may not know Alex personally, but from what your grandmother has said, I understand a few things. First, Alex loves you deeply. Second, he believes in letting you choose your mate from your heart, not just because of destiny. This means he will always love and protect you, even if you choose someone else. Alex may be ruthless to his enemies, but he's fiercely protective of his people. I believe if you choose another, he would still ensure that you have a good life, possibly even giving you a grand gesture to show his support.""Are you sure?" I asked, seeking reassurance in her words."Yes, dear. Love, in its truest form, wants happiness for the beloved, even if it means letting them go. If Alex truly loves you, he'll respect your choice and wish you nothing but happiness, regardless of
In the dining room, I observed Xander engaged in a grave discussion with Nadine. However, upon my entrance, his stern expression melted into a smile, and he rose gracefully, the epitome of a gentleman, to greet me.“Come, sit here,” Xander offered, his voice imbued with a refined hospitality. “What brings you to seek me at this late hour?”I still stood. Drawing in a deep, contemplative breath, I wrestled with the swirling maelstrom of doubts within me. Mother had been right; I could no longer drift aimlessly through life's journey without purpose. For too long, I had been a mere leaf in the wind. It was time to seize the reins of my destiny. Casting a glance at my mother, I found encouragement in her subtle nod, a silent support.“Xander, I implore you, answer me truthfully,” I entreated, my voice laced with a newfound resolve.“Yes,” Xander responded, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “What burdens your heart with such seriousness?”“Please, tell me, did Eclipse truly steal with you
Her big body like me lunged at me, her claws aimed with lethal precision. I managed to block her initial strike, but her subsequent kick caught me off guard, sending my body hurtling into a corner of the dining hall.I may have power, but I don't have enough experience in fighting, since I just learned in these two weeks. Nadine was professional. She tried to hit me a few times again, and I blocked some of it. Mother tried to help me, but Nadine in her super werewolf side only needed one punch to knock out mother.As Nadine advanced towards me, a creeping sense of fear began to overwhelm me. I realized that even in my enhanced state, I might not be able to triumph over Nadine. Her presence loomed larger with each step she took, her confidence evident in her imposing stance and unwavering gaze.Xander suddenly intervened, positioning himself as a barrier between us. His tone was cold, authoritative. “Nadine, enough is enough.”"But she needs to understand her place, Xander!" Nadine pro
On the private aircraft, I occupied a seat alongside my mother and Nicholas, engaging in a profound conversation regarding our forthcoming plans."Nicholas, we are planning to ally with Eclipse to reclaim the royal kingdom. What are your thoughts?" I inquired, seeking his perspective on our daunting task.He reclined in the luxurious plane chair, his face a mix of contemplation and unease. "Well, choosing between my Uncle Ferdinand and the Dark King is like picking the lesser of two evils. I'd reluctantly opt for the Dark King, as their greed is purely for wealth. But my uncle... his thirst for power knows no bounds. I think he would readily eliminate me to ensure either he or his son inherits the crown."My mother, her voice steady yet tinged with a hint of concern, reassured him, "Don't fret, Nicholas. Once you marry Aurora, the crown will still be yours. We're family, after all."At this, Nicholas let out a laugh, but it was hollow, devoid of genuine mirth. "Ah, such dreams you har
I struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation. General Thomas, a daunting figure marked by scars etched deep into his weathered face, fixed me with a gaze so intense it felt like it could pierce through my very soul. His eyes, simmering with hostility, bore into me as he posed his question again."Aurora, you must agree to lead the front war," General Thomas insisted, his voice unwavering.‘Me, leading the war on the front line? You must be out of you mind.’“I am sorry,” I replied, feeling a twinge of fear. “I don’t have the ability to fight, nor to lead a fight. I really don’t think I am suited for it.”“You may not lead nor know how to kill.” His response was curt, the harshness in his tone unmistakable. “But your pact, the ex-Royal Guard. They can do better. Give me all your pact or give back to Nicholas and let him lead the war. And don’t forget to return everything you received from Prince Nicholas.”I felt a knot of confusion tighten in my stomach. “What do you mean?”
"I don't," I quickly replied. But I can feel something starting to change inside me. Like Xander had told me, my blood slowly changing, starting to emit a pheromone. And after that, my whole body started to change for a more powerful and perfect structure of the body. Adding high-quality serum while training, I could feel that my vision, mind, and whole body were clearer and sharper. I felt more powerful daily. And yes, maybe I have a charming ability, but I don't dare to say that.Nicholas, his face contorted with anger and a sense of betrayal, demanded, “Enough, Ferdinand. Just tell me, do you seek to buy my support or not? If you have no such intention, I shall take my leave now.”“Nicholas! This isn't about mere coins; it's about honor!” My father's voice thundered across the room, his face flushed with fervor.“You damned old man. You refuse to pay, yet you expect me to sacrifice myself for nothing but honor? You're no better than Victor. I am done here.” Nicholas’s voice dripped
I sat quietly in a clean cell with shiny silver bars, thinking, on the hard bed. Nicholas was also locked up, in the cell to my right. The air felt thick around us, filled with the sterile smell of metal. It was our first day meeting my father, and we were already behind bars.What a life.‘Do I have to cry again?’ I wondered, a weary sigh escaping my lips. Even myself is already tired of me. I can only cry and never seem to do anything better. I longed to be like Nadine – strong, powerful, a master of my own destiny. Even Bianca possessed a strength I envied.But what am I? Haven't I promised to be strong and never regret whatever I am going to do again?Yet, here I was, drowning in regret, I really regret losing Xanders and Nadine. With them, I almost felt invincible; they supported me, accepted me as I was. Even in my weakness, they stood by me, patiently guiding me towards my own strength. They valued me for who I truly was.Xanders... he had become my everything.'Why did I hurt
As I lay there napping, half-asleep, the familiar voice of my mother pierced through my dreams, pulling me back to a harsher reality.“Aurora,” she called, her voice laced with a deep-seated worry that seemed to echo off the cold walls of the jail.I don't know whether she worries about me or worries about me not following Ferdinand's plan.“I don’t think we have anything to talk about anymore,” I responded, without bothering to wake up. I couldn't bring myself to look at her directly, the sting of her betrayal too fresh, too painful. She, my mother, betrayed me. In the name of family. No, it is I, myself who chose to follow her. So it is my own stupidity.‘I should not follow her way of thinking without any facts.’"Please, Aurora, just this once, follow what your father has arranged for you." She implored, her hands clasping and unclasping nervously. "Don't you want the three of us to be together again? The chance is finally here.""Family?" I scoffed bitterly, finally turning to fa
I looked at the baby he was so cute, but I know I had to act. I dressed him in new clothes and wrote the prophecy about his future role in saving the world on the cloth. He was destined to return here, to build a dome for humanity and fulfill his fate—perhaps he had already completed his mission. I donned the wrist device and fashioned a smaller one for the baby, so we could travel through time together. But first, I had to ensure that the future would be free of problems. The spheres were set to manage the environment, programmed to halt their work when CO2 levels reached 0.04%. As for who would rule in the future, I chose not to decide. The people must learn to govern themselves; some were already training to use the spheres. I couldn't always be their deity; they needed to become self-sufficient. With the baby in tow, I prepared to leave this era, knowing I would never return; it wasn't my place. Together, we activated the high-frequency drive, propelling us into the fourth
On the night the baby was born, the parents was sleeping soundly, unaware of the sphere descended to take a sample of the newborn's blood.It was painless. And the sphere quickly checked the DNA.As the results flashed on the screen, it not fit my DNA. But I saw a connection between myself and this baby—a sibling, perhaps.I didn’t now if I have messed up with the future or I still unborn in this time.Two years later, the woman I believed to be my mother was expecting again, this time a daughter. It was clear then that the baby wasn’t me.All I can do was waiting.In the five years since I came here, we constructed 76,910 domes worldwide, sheltering 500 million survivors from the once 8 billion-strong human population.The disparity was stark: some domes teemed with life, while others stood empty, their ecosystems meticulously engineered and automated, home only to selected wildlife.The advent of virtual exploration allowed people to survey these domes remotely, relocating if they f
"Show me where my parents are," I commanded the sphere with excitement. After long years, I was about to meet my long-lost parents.The sphere generated a screen for me to view, revealing a young man and woman, perhaps around 20 years old, entering the Eden Dome for the first time. They appeared bewildered and lost, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and wonder."Are you sure they are my parents?" I questioned, my brow furrowed in doubt. They were even younger than me. It felt odd, almost as if I should call them little brother and sister instead of parents."Yes, Master," the sphere responded affirmatively. "Your genetic DNA matches theirs perfectly.""But," I hesitated, scrutinizing the image, my heart pounding with a strange apprehension. "Send one sphere to them; I need to ask them something."The distance seemed vast, with our dome situated half a world away, creating a chasm between us."As you wish, Master."A sphere glided toward the man and woman in the distant dome. "Excuse
"Guys, please stop it," I implored, the urgency clear in my voice. "There will be no use."The spheres that had been hovering alongside each of the gang’s leaders and their members suddenly flared into a menacing red hue. "The host is showing harmful behavior. The security protocol will be launched," it announced in a dispassionate tone.Without warning, the spheres emitted a piercing frequency that targeted all guns, weapons, and harmful items. In moments, they disintegrated into fine atom dust, which the sphere then collected and whisked away, presumably to be repurposed as building material.The bear leader's and all gang’s members face registered shock, then eyes wide with disbelief and fear."In Eden, when you make a mistake, there are two options for you to choose from," I continued, my voice steady. "One, we simply expel you back to where you came from. Or, alternatively, you can e
In the dimly lit underground city, I had just finished selling my last can of food. Eagerly, I was about to purchase more slaves, when the bear gang leader approached me with his smelly body odour.Water was precious here; people wash their body once a year.His burly frame cast a long shadow as he strode towards me, flanked by two other gang’s leaders, their footsteps echoing in the small alley.“Alex, the fish seller,” he growled, his voice deep and menacing.“That’s me!” I responded with a cheerful smile.“We want you to take us to the fish factory. Can you, do it?” His eyes, sharp and probing, seemed to pierce through me, daring me to decline.“Sure,” I replied happily. “The owner already mentioned he'd be thrilled to have you all there. He said there’s plenty of food.”“Really?” he asked, scepticism written all over his rugged face.“Yes, take as many people as you can,” I urged, sensing their disbelief.The three of them exchanged looks of shock and disbelief. “Whatever,” one of
I stood in my house, gazing at the sprawling expanse of New York City below, dreaming of transforming it into a colossal dome.However, the architectural limitations soon became apparent, leading to a revised plan of constructing a network of smaller domes, each the size of a soccer field, interconnected like a honeycomb.This design was not only efficient but also practical in case of emergencies, such as shattered glass or structural failures. It could be easily detached and repaired without causing trouble to the entire dome.As the temperature inside the dome needed to be controlled for the plants and for the humans.The first group of eighty slaves, were settled in one of the completed domes. For the time being, they shared a common sleeping area, heavily medicated to aid their recovery and adjustment to their new environment.Each person was assigned a spherical device designed to help them acclimate to this "new Eden."At the night before, I was guiding them out of the undergro
‘No, I cannot move now before I know everything about them. I may wrongly save people and cause trouble. I need to study them more,’ I thought, my mind racing with caution.“Spheres 567, stay on the underground and record everything about their activities,” I commanded, letting them delve into the shadows.Finding one of the human underground hubs, I dispatched another hundred spheres to scout the area. Because humans may concentrate in one locale, and my hunch was spot on.Humans were crafting an underground city, intertwining with the natural caves and beginning to carve out a vast space within the earth's embrace.Through the spherical eyes, I glimpsed a colossal chamber that sparked memories of the largest underground city ever discovered, Derinkuyu in Cappadocia, Turkey, capable of sheltering around 20,000 people along with their livestock and food stores.But the population here seemed to surpass 80,000, with the capacity to house over 200,000. As I used the spheres to map the e
One had to remember where he was from. I had completed my research to elevate human frequency to a higher dimension, allowing passage through space and time. This ambition was fueled by my desire to meet my parents in the future.In my study room, I carefully handled the clothes that had swaddled me as a baby, left at the orphanage door. The fabric held the mystery of my origins. Despite using the gate to the past to uncover who had placed me at the orphanage, no one appeared. The clothes and I simply materialized out of nowhere.I placed the garment on the scanning blueprint machine, aiming to record every atom and deduce the era it hailed from. This information was pivotal for my journey to that specific time.The smart device strapped to my wrist was brimming with data necessary for the impending future war. In moments, the year 2112 flashed on its screen. Was it truly 80 years into the future?Activating the smart device on my left arm, my body began to feel ethereal, as the body
AlexI brought back a child, a five-year-old girl, to my mansion when I encountered Nadine. "Can you take care of this child as you do our own?" I asked tentatively."Who is she?" Nadine inquired, her eyes narrowing slightly in confusion and curiosity.I hesitated, grappling with the truth. The thought of Nadine possibly becoming a cruel stepmother to Aurora's daughter haunted me. But the weight of the secret was too heavy. As she could find the answer by herself anytime she wants."She is Aurora's daughter," I confessed. "I killed Nicholas, and soon Aurora will vanish from this world. This child is utterly alone, bearing no fault in these tragic events.""And her name?" Nadine pressed, her demeanour softening as she gently took the child into her arms, cradling her with maternal warmth.Shaking my head, I replied, "Aurora refused to name her. She's been living like a shadow among the maids, an unwanted soul.""How heartless can one be!" Nadine exclaimed, her face contorting in anger