Zane's vision wavered.
The celestial entity standing before him was… wrong in a way his mind couldn't process. The harder he tried to focus on her form, the more his sight blurred, like trying to stare directly at the sun through water. Shapes overlapped. Lines bent. His head began to ache, a sharp pressure building behind his eyes.
Instinctively, he looked away.
But even without seeing her clearly, some things were obvious.
She was humanoid.
Feminine.
And when she spoke—when she called him my child—something inside Zane cracked open.
Her voice was soft, warm, impossibly gentle. It wrapped around him like an embrace, like a place he had never known but had somehow been missing his entire life. For a brief, terrifying moment, Zane felt as though his entire existence—every lonely night, every unanswered question—had been leading here.
She noticed his struggle.
"You are not ready for that, my dear," she said lightly, almost teasingly. He could swear she giggled. "Trying to perceive me directly will only hurt you."
The pain eased the moment he stopped forcing his gaze.
"I'm glad I was able to reach you," she continued, her tone shifting just slightly. "The rules governing this realm are… far too vast. I cannot remain for long. If I do, either you or I will face repercussions."
Zane opened his mouth.
She raised a finger.
It gently pressed against his lips.
"Shhh," she whispered, smiling. "I told you—don't speak."
Her smile softened. "You really do have your father's stubbornness."
Zane froze.
Before he could even think about that, she continued.
"I won't tell you who I am," she said. "Not yet. That responsibility will fall to Nyx."
Zane's brow furrowed. Nyx—
He inhaled to ask.
Her finger pressed a little more firmly. "Still shhh."
Then, amused, "Honestly… you're already asking the question in your head."
Her expression turned wistful.
"I won't stay longer than necessary. I only came to make sure you were alright." A pause. "And to see how the system—Nyx—is treating you."
Her gaze sharpened, though Zane couldn't quite see her eyes.
"You'll learn soon enough."
Then her voice lowered, becoming serious.
"Find your sister. Protect her."
Zane's thoughts immediately jumped—my sister?
She smiled knowingly.
"And no," she added gently, "I am not referring to your biological sister."
Her tone grew almost fond. "Your actual sister. You will know her when you see her."
She paused.
Her entire figure suddenly flickered red.
"…Hmm," she murmured. "Interesting."
For the first time, something like surprise crossed her presence.
"Mira is important," she said slowly. "You will need her to awaken your second core."
Zane's breath caught.
"You have three, by the way."
That one sentence hit harder than anything else.
"And…" she added, almost casually, "you may call me Mom."
The space around her began to destabilize. Light fractured. The stars warped.
"I'm losing control," she said softly. "Time is up."
She stepped closer, close enough that Zane felt warmth again—felt home.
"I love you, Zane," she said. "And I promise… we will meet again."
Her voice faded even as her presence began to dissolve.
"Now go," she whispered. "Your friends need you."
The last thing he heard, echoing through the endless expanse, was—
"I will always be watching you. Goodbye, my child."
She vanished.
The stars collapsed inward.
And Zane fell.