The night was quiet.
Aurelion lay on his cot, staring at the ceiling. The artificial light had dimmed, casting the room in soft shadow. The city outside was settling into its version of night—quieter, calmer, but never truly still.
He couldn't sleep.
His mind kept circling back to the Commissioner's words. "I have traveled further than you can imagine, Demon King. I have seen things that would break your mind. And I have learned that some questions are better left unanswered." But the jellyfish-being had sensed deception in its voice. The Commissioner wanted something. There was always a price.
He sat up, his body aching.
The jellyfish-being was drifting near the window, its light pulsing softly. It had been watching over him since they returned, its silent presence oddly comforting.
"You don't sleep, do you?" Aurelion asked.
The jellyfish pulsed. Its guide translated.
"It says it does not sleep in the way you understand. It rests, but it remains aware."
Aurelion nodded slowly. "I wish I could do that."
The jellyfish drifted closer, its light pulsing in a gentle rhythm.
"It says you are troubled. It says your thoughts are loud."
"Yeah." He ran a hand through his hair. "I have a lot on my mind."
The jellyfish pulsed.
"It says you should speak them. It says silence makes thoughts heavier."
Aurelion was quiet for a moment.
"The Commissioner said it would try to find a way to get the Chrono Guardian's attention," he said finally. "But I don't know if I can trust it. It's hiding something."
The jellyfish pulsed.
"It says your instincts are correct. It says the Commissioner is not being fully truthful."
Aurelion nodded slowly. "That's what I thought."
He lay back down, staring at the ceiling.
"What do I do?" he asked. "I need to get home. I need to find a way back to Earth. But I don't know who to trust."
The jellyfish pulsed.
"It says you should trust your team. It says you have allies here. It says you are not alone."
Aurelion looked at the creature. "You really believe that?"
The jellyfish pulsed—a warm, gentle light.
"It says it does. It says it has seen you fight. It says it has seen you care. It says those are not the actions of someone who is truly alone."
Aurelion was silent for a long moment.
"Thank you," he said finally.
The jellyfish pulsed softly.
"It says you are welcome. It says you should rest. It says tomorrow will bring new challenges."
Aurelion closed his eyes.
"Tomorrow," he repeated. "Yeah. Tomorrow."
Aurelion lay on his cot, his eyes open, staring at the ceiling. The artificial light had dimmed to a soft glow, casting long shadows across the walls. The city outside was quiet—quieter than usual, as if even the Mundikuni was holding its breath.
His mind wouldn't stop churning.
The Commissioner. The ritual. The sacrifice. The jellyfish-being's warning about deception. Every thought led to another, each one heavier than the last.
He sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the cot. His body ached, his muscles sore from the temple raid, his mind exhausted from the endless cycle of doubt and determination.
The jellyfish-being was still there, drifting near the window. Its light pulsed in a slow, steady rhythm—a silent heartbeat in the darkness.
"You're still here," Aurelion said.
The jellyfish pulsed. Its guide translated.
"It says it will stay as long as you need it."
"I don't even know your name. Or what to call you."
The jellyfish pulsed again.
"It says it has no name. It says names are for beings who need to be distinguished from others. It says it has never needed one."
"Then what do I call you?"
The jellyfish was silent for a moment. Then it pulsed—a soft, thoughtful light.
"It says you may call it whatever you wish. It says it will answer to anything."
Aurelion considered this. "How about... Lumen? It means light."
The jellyfish pulsed—a bright, warm glow.
"It says it likes that name. It says it will answer to Lumen."
Aurelion nodded. "Good. Lumen it is."
He stood, walking to the window. The city stretched below him—the gleaming spires, the winding streets, the countless beings living their lives. Somewhere out there, the traffickers were still operating. Somewhere out there, the network was still intact.
And somewhere out there, the Commissioner was planning something.
"I don't trust it," Aurelion said. "The Commissioner. It knows something. Something it's not telling me."
Lumen pulsed.
"It says you are right to be cautious. It says it sensed the deception in the Commissioner's voice. It says there is more to its offer than it is revealing."
Aurelion nodded slowly. "Yes, you've already said so."
He turned away from the window.
"The thing is, I don't have a choice. If the Commissioner has a way to get the Chrono Guardian's attention, I have to take it. Even if it's a trap."
Lumen pulsed.
"It says that is a dangerous mindset. It says walking into a trap with open eyes is still walking into a trap."
"I know." Aurelion's voice was quiet. "But I've been running for too long. Fighting, surviving, reacting. If I have a chance to take control, I have to take it."
Lumen drifted closer, its light pulsing softly.
"It says it understands. It says it has been in similar situations. It says it will follow you, whatever you decide."
Aurelion looked at the creature.
"Thank you, Lumen. That means more than you know."
The jellyfish pulsed—a warm, gentle light.
"It says you are welcome. It says it will watch your back."
Aurelion almost smiled, It really like repeating things huh
"I'm starting to realize that."
He didn't sleep that night.
Instead, he sat at the window, watching the city. The lights flickered in the distance, the streets empty and quiet. Lumen drifted beside him, its light pulsing in a steady rhythm.
He thought about his life. About the things he had done, the things he had lost, the things he was still trying to find.
He thought about the Demon King. About the memories of his old life—the conquests, the power, the endless, grinding war. He had done terrible things. He had been a terrible person. But he had also changed. He had become someone new.
He thought about Ami. About her smile, her voice, the way she had looked at him when he left. He thought about Corrin and Kael, about the battles they had fought together, the bonds they had forged. He thought about Earth—the blue sky, the green fields, the people he had left behind.
He had to get back.
No matter what it cost.
Dawn came slowly.
The artificial sun rose over the city, casting pale light across the streets. The beings began to stir, their guides floating beside them, their lives continuing as if nothing had changed.
Aurelion stood, stretching his aching limbs.
"Lumen," he said. "I need to find Nova. And Vex. And the others. We need to talk."
Lumen pulsed.
"It says it will find them. It says it will bring them to the common room."
Aurelion nodded. "Thank you."
Lumen drifted away, its light pulsing softly as it disappeared through the doorway.
Aurelion walked to the common room.
They gathered within the hour.
Nova was the first to arrive, her plasma sword at her hip, her eyes sharp and alert. She sat down across from Aurelion, studying his face.
"You look worse than yesterday," she said.
"Thanks. You know how to make a guy feel special."
She almost smiled. "What's going on?"
Before he could answer, Vex entered, its tattoos glowing faintly. The reptilian creature followed close behind, its guide floating beside it. Lumen drifted in last, its light pulsing softly.
Aurelion waited until they were all seated.
"The Commissioner is hiding something," he said. "It offered to help me find a way to get the Chrono Guardian's attention. But I don't trust it."
Vex leaned forward. "What did it offer?"
"A ritual. A sacrifice." He paused. "But it didn't tell me what the sacrifice would be. It said it would prepare the ritual first."
Vex's eyes narrowed. "That's unusual. The Commissioner is usually more... direct."
"Exactly." Aurelion met their eyes. "I think there's more to this than it's telling me. I think it wants something from me. Something I don't know about yet."
Nova frowned. "Then why are you going through with it?"
"Because I don't have a choice." His voice was flat. "If there's a way to get home, I have to take it. Even if it's a trap."
The reptilian creature hissed. Its guide translated. "It says you are a fool. It says walking into a trap knowingly is not bravery. It says it is stupidity."
Aurelion almost smiled. "Maybe. But it's my stupidity."
The creature hissed again, but there was no malice in it. If anything, it almost seemed amused.
Vex spoke. "If you're going through with this, you'll need to be prepared. The Commissioner's rituals are not simple. They require preparation, focus, and a willingness to accept the consequences."
"I know."
"Then we'll help you prepare." Vex stood. "We'll gather information. We'll watch the Commissioner. We'll make sure you're not walking into something you can't handle."
Aurelion looked at the group.
"Thank you," he said. "All of you."
Lumen pulsed softly.
"It says you are welcome. It says we are your team now."
Aurelion nodded slowly.
"Then let's get to work."