The vast expanse of space outside the ship seemed to mirror Tom's desolation. The shimmering stars and swirling galaxies, which once held so much promise and wonder, now appeared distant and cold. Inside the vessel, the silence was palpable, broken only by the soft hum of the engines.
Tom's thoughts spiraled. Memories of Lila's laughter, Eldric's wisdom, and Caelum's wit intermingled with the horrifying visuals of their end. Every time he closed his eyes, the temple's haunting scenes replayed in relentless succession.
In the quiet confines of the ship, Tom's once budding emotional stability began to erode. The walls he had erected in his youth to guard against pain and vulnerability, walls that had recently shown cracks of warmth and connection, now fortified themselves. Every emotion, save for anger, was forcibly suppressed, shoved into the deepest recesses of his psyche.
He felt betrayed. The Academy, which had promised knowledge and power, had taught him so little in the time he had been there. He realized he had been woefully unprepared for the challenges he faced. How different might things have been if he had known more, if he had been stronger?
Tom's mind wandered back to his early life. The societal values he had been exposed to as a child resurfaced—where worth was not measured by one's abilities or character but by tangible assets: wealth, fame, influence. His family, influential and affluent, had always operated under this belief. To them, power was not in spells or incantations but in the empire of assets they controlled.
Sitting in the ship's cockpit, Tom's hands clenched the controls. The anger within him was directionless and boundless. The Academy, his family's teachings, the entire system—everything felt flawed, broken. There had to be another way, a path where he could amass real power, where he wouldn't be at the mercy of unknown threats or ill-prepared for challenges.
He contemplated his assets. The data chip Caelum had given him was invaluable. The knowledge it contained could be his ticket, a means to an end. But what end? Revenge on the forces that took his friends? The pursuit of unmatched power? Or perhaps a combination of both?
The ship continued its voyage through the stars, its destination unclear. But one thing was certain: the Tom that emerged from this journey would be vastly different from the one that began it.