Continuing from last chapter
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Grandpa Olipo finished his explanation, his deep voice still echoing faintly in the sterile room. Hikean nodded slowly, processing the flood of information, before tilting his head.
"So… Nyprotherians are, uh… super powerful?"
Olipo thought for a moment. "Yeah, that's right. But they don't start out strong."
"Ah, stop, stop," Stellanmo interrupted with a lazy wave of her hand. "All this yapping is making me tired~." She let out a long, exaggerated yawn, then grinned. "C'mon, let's go to the city, Grandpa!"
Olipo sighed, the weight of her impatience pulling at his shoulders. "Fine, fine. Alright, lad, go back into your room. The doctors and nurses here will take care of you."
Stellanmo blinked. "Back to his room? What do you mean? We're taking him with us."
Olipo's gaze hardened. "Do you not remember? He needs to stay here for further tests, to make sure he's alright."
Stella's memory caught up with her, and she pouted. "Ugh, fine." She turned toward Hikean, suddenly perking up again. "Hey, you! I have a question—what's your name?"
Hikean hesitated, digging through the scattered haze of his memories. "Hik— Hikean? I think…"
Stella raised a brow. "Hikean, huh? Interesting name." A small smirk tugged at her lips.
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Three days later, after all the check-ups…
The room was quiet except for the low hum of medical projectors casting diagrams and health charts across the walls. Hikean sat alone, eyes flicking over the flickering displays, until the door hissed open.
A doctor stepped in, pressing a button on the table. A hidden chair clicked free, and he took a seat. He cleared his throat lightly. "Hi, Hikean. Have you been doing alright?"
"Yes, sir," Hikean replied, his tone carrying a faint, automatic respect.
The doctor nodded, folding his hands. "Good. Now, about your Nyphon energy signatures, we thought they were cold by mistake. Turns out, you've got potential in the Ice Path of Nyprotherians. Hah, that brain of yours isn't so bad." He gave a quick grin before continuing. "Anyway, your body's recovering well, your vitals are stable, and your energy signatures are solid. You'll be discharged soon. Oh, and I contacted the folks who saved you, they wanted to know when you were getting out."
Hikean dipped his head. "Thank you for everything, sir."
The doctor waved it off with a small chuckle. "No need to thank me just doing my job. Now, sit tight. We'll get your discharge papers ready. And don't worry about the bill they're covering it."
Hikean smiled faintly, though his thoughts were heavier. Man… I really have to thank them. I don't even have the currency people use on me…
A short while later, the paperwork was finished. Hikean left the office, navigating the maze-like corridors until he finally found the stairs down to the main level.
When he stepped through the hospital's front doors, the world outside struck him like a wave.
The city sprawled before him alive, radiant, and impossibly advanced. Flying cars weaved between glittering towers, neon projections and holographic models floated in midair, spilling light over the crowds. The streets below teemed with beings of every imaginable form, some of which he had only ever heard about in whispered tales from his time in captivity.
He drew in a slow breath, feeling the weight of the air, the hum of the city, the pulse of freedom.
Wow… I really have escaped, haven't I?
He caught a faint call drifting from his side. Turning his head, he spotted Stella and Olipo waiting patiently, each holding some strange, unfamiliar street food. A small smile tugged at his lips as he greeted them softly, "Ah, hello, you two. Thank you for covering the hospital bill…" He chuckled lightly, a hint of embarrassment coloring his voice. "I didn't have any cash on me."
Stellanmo laughed as she said "thats fine, think of it as a debt you owe to us! but anyway, this is the city of technological future, Neotera!" she then points at the massive skyscrapers with dozens of holographic advertisements playing on countless billboards, as beneath them lay countless people all from different speices, races and gender walking around. As this sight Hikean takes in is nothing short os a technological marvel.
Hikean takes in a wide gasp of air as he looks on in surprise, as he says "where… i mean, what kingdom are we in?"
Stellanmo says "Us? well, we are in the kingdom of hyperi, its the most technologcially advanced kingdom in the empire we serve under!" she says with a proud expression
Hikeans mouth almost drops off his jaw as he gulps nervously, as he looks around with awe, as he has only heard tales of technologically advanced places such as this in his confinement, but as for why he was confined… even he doesnt know
They both have some small talk for a little bit, before they start showing Hikean around, as they walk around the city Hikean sees sights he could have only dreamed of, as he takes in sights he couldn't have ever imagined.
But suddenly, they hear a loud boom, as the three of them turn their head to the direction, as they suddenly see two blurry figures fighting it out, as city blocks are crushed under their pressure, as Grandpa Olipo's expression changes drastically, as he says " Nyprotherians… why are they fighting?! fuck, we need to leave NOW!" as he grabs stellanmo's arm, and tells Hikean to follow, as they make a run for it, away from the battle.
As Hikean turns his head around to catch more glimpses of the battle, he catches sight of some fire and earth clashing against eachother, as his eyes widen with awe and mutters "so this.. is a nyprotherian.." But soon he turns his head back to continue focusing on running, as he doesnt wish to be caught up in what to him is a apocolyptic battle.
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In an endless expanse of dark matter, we see the being sitting down, as he peers through dimensions and watches what is happening, as he stares and watches for a moment, before saying "i guess the wheels of fate have finally begun in full swing… hopefully this one lasts longer then the others"