The trial's voice rumbled across the void, low and questioning.
Trial: "You've made your stand. Then tell me… what will you do? How will you resolve the fracture between Avia and Devia? Between those who cling to compression, and those who thrive outside it?"
The air rippled like judgment itself was waiting for her answer. The chamber was filled with silent expectation—an audience of unseen wills, of ancestors, of critics.
The stone pulsed faintly, like a quiet heartbeat. Then… she laughed. Not mockery. Not arrogance. Just… amused clarity.
Stone (softly, almost playful): "What will I do? …Heh… I know exactly what to do."
The chuckle lingered, rolling like a riddle left in the wind. Was she speaking to the trial? To the gathered Airiens? Or—was she speaking past them all, into the ears of the reader, into the marrow of the story itself?
No answer followed. No reasoning. No blueprint. Just that whisper—light enough to haunt, heavy enough to foreshadow.
The void dimmed. The trial fell silent. And without fanfare, the stone drifted back toward the rift. She crossed the portal in silence, leaving the unresolved question hanging like a blade suspended mid-fall.
On the other side, Klexis, Tarren, and Noan turned toward her. Their Avia still flared, renewed. Their expressions shifted—part relief, part disbelief.
But what did she tell the trial? Did she even speak at all? Or had the void carried a secret only she knew?
Her glow folded inward, form breaking down into crystalline facets once more. Slowly, she returned to her dormant state—the creation stone. Silent. Waiting.
And the trial was over.
The Creation Stone pulsed with a soft radiance, its voice gentle yet booming in the vast colosseum.
Creation Stone: "You're brave children… the bravest you've ever been. Klexis… you broke your trial by accepting yourself. Noan… you finally learned to let go. And Tarren… ah, sweet paradox… you used your cowardice to save your village. Your panic became strength… as it always was. Each of you is privileged to have seen my inner conflict. You should be proud of yourselves."
A ripple of laughter echoed against the stone walls, their relief carried in that fragile sound.
Klexis leaned back with a crooked grin.
Klexis: "And we've also seen your body, hehe…"
Noan immediately nudged him, face flushing.
Noan: "Shut up—h-he doesn't mean it!"
Tarren only shook his head, somewhere between amusement and disbelief.
For a moment, silence stretched. Then, Noan stepped forward, his voice steady.
Noan: "What now? What did you see… during your trial?"
The stone shimmered, golden cracks of light spiraling through its crystalline surface.
Creation Stone: "I saw my doubts. Literally… haha. But nothing is ever permanent. I know what must be done."
Its light grew brighter, casting long shadows across the colosseum floor.
Creation Stone: "Come. Let us leave. You are free now."
With a deep hum, the colosseum dissolved into nothingness. They were carried through the metaphysical tunnel—stillness moving them along a golden, floating narrow path.
And then—poof.
The world shifted.
The three landed back in Airious. Back at Klexis's home.
The air breezed past them, carrying a strange weight—like Samban, the god of air himself, was whispering through the currents.
The trial hadn't been long, but it lingered like eternity. A mirror too sharp to ignore, cutting into truths they'd rather not admit. And no one, no matter how strong, wanted to face that kind of naked honesty.
Noan exhaled, forcing a chuckle to ease the tension.
"Pfft. That's Airious for you. Brutal honesty in the prettiest package."
Tarren smirked, leaning in with a sly jab.
"Don't act like you weren't checking her out, though."
Noan's eyes widened, scandalized.
"What? Me? No! Why would you even—" His voice cracked. "I wasn't!"
Tarren crossed his arms, smug. "Mhm. Sure."
Klexis broke into laughter, raising a brow at Noan's panic.
"He's right, you're dangerous with it. All that pretending to be slick—much worse than just admitting it."
Then, with a shrug, he added coolly,
"Besides, I've got Merina. She's my world. And if she even thought I was checking anyone else out—" he traced a finger across his throat dramatically, "—I'd be dead before I could blink."
The three shared a laugh, the heavy air of the trial loosening just enough for them to breathe again.
Klexis froze for a moment.
The faint ripple of an invisible force grazed his senses, followed by the sharp metallic chime of knives being twirled in the distance. He didn't even need to turn.
"...Jorxis. Evexis."
His younger siblings. Ever teasing, ever taunting, ever predictable.
Evexis appeared first, blades dancing between her fingers, her smirk sharper than the steel.
"You guys didn't last as long as I expected," she sneered.
Tarren winced, sweat still on his brow. "It felt like forever for us. All in the name of reconnecting with our Avia." He let out a breath, but there was pride there. "But hey… at least I proved the people of my village wrong. I'm not a coward."
Klexis folded his arms, the faintest grin tugging at his mouth. "And we looked pretty damn cool while breaking through."
Noan only nodded silently.
Jorxis snickered as he emerged from the shadows, voice dripping mockery.
"Heh. Let me guess…" He pitched his tone into an overdramatic monologue. "'I'm not bound by my father anymore! I'll crush anyone who stands in my way with my impact—hahaha!'"
Klexis rolled his eyes. Too accurate. Too on the nose.
Evexis's gaze slid to the others. "And you two… Noan, Mister Self-Awareness. Tarren, Mister Panic. I wonder what kind of trials you faced." Her grin widened. "Especially you, Noan. Since your whole power is literally self-awareness."
Noan rubbed the back of his head. "Eh, the very root of my nature got tested. Nobody escapes. But—" his lips curled into a sly smirk "—I made it real hard for the trial to figure out a proper confrontation strategy."
He chuckled. "Heh. Poor thing didn't know how to handle me."
The door creaked open.
Elegia stepped in first, her presence carrying that calm yet commanding air only a mother could have. Behind her, Merina followed — bright-eyed, sharp as ever.
Elegia leaned slightly, arms crossed.
Elegia: "Heh, what happened there, my son? You didn't keep long."
Merina chimed in, smirking as she brushed her hair back.
Merina: "Yeah, like thirty minutes ago..."
Klexis gave a tired chuckle, shaking his head.
Klexis: "Yeah, well... it felt like forever for us."
Before the mood could settle, Tarren cut in sharply, raising a brow.
Tarren: "That's what we were saying."
Noan stretched his arms lazily, like the whole ordeal was just a nap gone wrong.
Noan: "Eh, time in Airious is bonkers anyway."
Elegia clapped her hands once, her tone light but insistent.
Elegia: "Come on, guys, food is ready."
Without hesitation, Jorxis and Evexis made their way to the dining room like hungry wolves.
Meanwhile, Merina slipped her hand into Klexis's, tugging him forward with that mix of affection and authority only she could pull off.
Merina: "I bet it was tough, huh? Don't worry... I added a special water remedy to your food."
The rest followed, chatter and footsteps filling the hall.
And then it hit them — the aroma.
Rich, mouthwatering, unmistakable.
The dining room was alive with the scent of chicken and beef Avian soup, steam rising like an invitation from the gods themselves.
The clinking of spoons and soft chewing filled the dinner table, a gentle rhythm of warmth. For a while, no one spoke—until Elegia finally broke the silence.
"What happened?" she asked, her tone gentle, but her eyes sharp with curiosity.
Tarren and Noan shared a quick glance, then lowered their heads again, pretending their food was far more interesting than the moment.
Klexis exhaled heavily, his fork pausing mid-air. He turned his gaze toward his mother, a hesitant weight in his voice.
"Mom… if an opportunity was handed to me—an opportunity to spend time with you all, forever… for eternity…" His lips trembled, his tone almost childlike despite the weight of the question. "Do you think it would be right for me to accept it?"
Elegia tilted her head, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. Beside her, Merina stiffened, her eyes darting toward Klexis as though she already sensed the undertone of his words. Even the siblings shared a wary glance.
After a moment of silence, Elegia leaned forward, her voice steady, motherly, but piercing.
"That offer may be tempting, Klexis. But you must think carefully. Would we truly be happy… eventually?"
She paused, her eyes softening as she locked onto his.
"More importantly—will you be happy eventually?"
The question lingered. It was simple, but it landed like a hammer in Klexis' chest.
Around the table, heads slowly nodded, the others affirming her wisdom without speaking. Tarren and Noan wore smug, almost prideful expressions, as though silently declaring, See? That's our mom.
Klexis chuckled dryly and shook his head.
"Nah… probably not."
Mother and son shared a knowing smile, a quiet agreement, before both returned to their plates as though nothing profound had been spoken at all.
The table breathed again—until Tarren couldn't help himself. He slammed his cup down lightly and declared,
"Can we just take a moment to talk about how wise your mother is, Klexis?"
Noan groaned, nudging him under the table.
"Not now, idiot."
That earned chuckles from Evexis and Jorxis, their laughter bouncing easily into the air. Across the table, Merina's gaze lingered on Klexis, her expression soft, almost tender.
"You were tested pretty brutally, weren't you?"
Klexis nodded quickly, almost too fast, the exhaustion leaking out of him.
"Yep."
And that was that. The weight of his trial, his hesitation, and his choice dissolved into the warmth of food, laughter, and family. The world could wait.
Klexis leaned back in his chair, the steam of the Avian soup brushing against his face like a ghost. The laughter of the room was gentle, almost unreal.
Why did I even bother asking… he thought, eyes drifting between the familiar faces. Heh. I knew they'd get it eventually. I've been through so much. I haven't told them the side of the opportunity… but maybe I don't need to. Choosing my father would drag me back to the rot I left. Choosing to rewrite mistakes with my uncle—Elexis—would make me a coward. And in the end… it wouldn't matter. Some Airiens are beyond the fifth dimension. Haha… beyond even us.
Merina's hand brushed his wrist under the table, grounding him.
"You're not eating," she whispered, her eyes softer than the steam curling up from the soup.
"I'll get there," Klexis muttered, forcing a smile.
Elegia clapped her hands lightly. "Come on now, no sulking at the table. You've all earned this meal."
Tarren chuckled sharply, leaning on his elbow. "He's not sulking. That's just his face."
Noan barked out a laugh. "Eh, don't bother him, Tarren. Time in Airious messes with everyone anyway."
The room hummed with small talk—Jorxis and Evexis already bantering about who would eat the most, Tarren nudging Noan for stealing an extra piece of bread. For the first time, the noise didn't feel like chaos. It felt like family.
Klexis exhaled, watching the steam twist like a serpent into the air. The family is ever united… even if I'm split inside.
He looked at Tarren and Noan, laughing freely as if they had always belonged here. And perhaps, in a way, they did.