Chapter 34: In Search of Echo Points and New Horizons
After that final, devastating encounter in the ruins, the portal opened by the Chitauri core had hurled Kael and Aslan beyond the stars at incredible speeds. It was a far different experience, more primal and immediate than their journey in the Stardust Jumper. It was as if they were being carried along by a hidden current in the fabric of the universe, on a course beyond time and space. As Kael drifted to and fro within the confines of his consciousness, Aslan held him tightly, supporting him on this dizzying journey.
After a while—it was impossible to tell how long—their drift slowed and they found themselves on solid ground again. When they opened their eyes, the landscape surrounding them was very different from the previous alien world. It was a dreamland, with giant, luminous crystals stretching into the sky, gravity strangely low, and tiny particles of energy floating in the air. The atmosphere was filled with a sweet, metallic scent.
Kael rose slowly to his feet. His body was still exhausted from the last battle, but his mind was filled with the energy emanating from the Chitauri core and the information he had received from the stone tablet. He knew that he was now an Echo Carrier, carrying an ancient legacy and a universal responsibility on his shoulders. How pale his dreams of a small empire in New York now seemed to be compared to this cosmic picture. But the fire within him, the desire for control and justice, was still there; only his goal and scale had changed.
"Where are we now?" Aslan asked, surveying the fascinating yet eerie landscape around him.
Kael looked at the Chitauri core in his palm. The core pulsed calmly but powerfully in this new environment, guiding Kael. "I believe," Kael said, "we are at the next echo point. One of the places the stone tablet spoke of, where we can strengthen the seal against the Lords of the Void."
This echo point, unlike the previous ruins, was not in ruins. Instead, it was like a carefully preserved, hidden shelter by the Creators. The giant crystals formed a natural defense line, while the surrounding energy flow seemed to keep out any unwanted guests.
The Chitauri core led them through a crystal labyrinth, leading them to the mouth of a vast cavern. The interior of the cavern was illuminated by a soft blue light, and at its center was a rotating artifact of intricate geometric shapes floating in the air. The artifact resonated with the same kind of energy as the Chitauri core.
"This is it," Kael whispered. "It must be a piece of the seal, or a key to power it."
But they had barely taken a step toward the artifact when, from the shadows of the cavern, they appeared to be beings of a type they had never seen before. They were neither the dark servants of the Lords of the Void nor the crystallized Guardians of the Star Scar. Although they were humanoid in form, their skin was covered in glowing scales, and their eyes shone like moonlight. In their hands, they held delicate yet deadly weapons made of energy.
"Stop, strangers!" one of them said, his voice reaching Kael and Aslan like a mental echo. "You may not enter this sacred space without permission. It is under the protection of the 'Star Singers.'"
Kael tried to read the intent of these new beings. He felt no hostility, but a strong determination and protective instinct. "We came here to do no harm," Kael said, keeping his voice calm. "I am an Echo Bearer. I have a connection to this artifact. I am here to strengthen the seal against the Lords of the Void."
The Star Singer looked Kael up and down, her eyes fixated on the Chitauri core in Kael's palm. "An Echo Bearer? It has been a long time since any of your lineage has set foot on these lands. But how can we trust your words? The shadows of the Void are everywhere."
Kael held out the Chitauri core to them. The core began to glow in synchrony with the artifact at the center of the cavern. "This is my proof," Kael said.
A wave of whispers spread among the Star Singers. The one who appeared to be their leader thought for a moment before taking a step toward Kael. "Perhaps you are right, Echo Bearer. Perhaps the time has come for the ancient prophecies to come true." The leader lowered his energy weapon. "However, in order to awaken this artifact and strengthen the seal, you must first pass the test of the Star Singers. You must prove to us that you are truly worthy of the Creators' legacy."
Kael did not hesitate in the face of this new test. Fate had brought him here, and he was determined to complete his task, no matter the cost. "We accept your test," he said.
In this new echo point, Kael and Aslan, under the guidance of the Star Singers, would embark on new adventures that would test both their own abilities and their loyalty to each other. While Kael sought to better understand and control his newfound powers as the Echo Carrier, Aslan would find his own role in this cosmic war. The Chitauri core would continue to guide them, whisper ancient secrets, and empower them in this desperate fight against the Lords of the Void.
But in the back of Kael's mind was still Earth. Fisk, the Nova Corps, that little Echo he had left behind... Would he ever return there? Or would his fate await him in the endless darkness of this interstellar war? The answers to these questions were still far away.